The Employment of Wives: Role Incompatibility and Fertility: A Study among Lower- and Middle-Class Residents of San Juan, Puerto Rico

Abstract

Data collected in 1966 among middle- and lower-class Puerto Rican women is used in an attempt to assess effect of role incompatibility on relationship between fertility and employment of wives. The specific hypothesis tested is: the greater incompatibility between roles of mother and worker greater differential fertility behavior of workers and women not in labor force. 4 measures of relative role incompatibility are used: occupation child-care patterns attitude toward mothers working away from home and any combination of these. White collar and professional jobs which require training and continuity on job are regarded as creating role incompatibility. Leaving ones children in care of relatives does not create incompatibility that hiring an outsider for child care does. The data generally supported hypothesis. However a more complete analysis would have involved other factors as well such as attitude of husband toward wifes employment proportionate contribution of wifes income to total family income maternity leave policies and cost availability and perceived adequacy of child care. To those who look forward employment of women as a means of reducing fertility level author points out that employment per se is not associated with lower fertility. Rather white collar employment is strongly associated with later marriages and lower fertility and barriers against employment of women in white collar and professional jobs should be undermined by governments. On other hand establishment of day care facilities might tend to raise fertility since child care would no longer be a major obstacle to working mother.