Gendered space-time constraints, daily activities, and social cohesion: Evidence from Fuzhou, China

Abstract

Previous literature on social cohesion has emphasized the role of daily activities but overlooked their interrelated nature resulting from space-time constraints. Moreover, gendered constraints found in recent studies add complexity to the mechanism. This research broadens the scope of social cohesion studies by adopting a gendered activity perspective. Utilizing data from an activity diary survey conducted in 2021 in Fuzhou, China, we explore gender differences in the impact of housework activity, employment activity, and neighborly social activity on social cohesion, considering gendered space-time constraints. Employing a multi-group structural equation model, we find that, compared to men, women’s social cohesion is more sensitive to and significantly affected by activity constraints. While stronger space-time constraints on housework activities offer opportunities for women’s neighborly social activities and social cohesion, constraints on employment activities play a negative role in their social cohesion. In contrast, activity constraints only slightly impact men’s social cohesion. We discuss policy implications for more specific initiatives to enhance social cohesion for men and women.