Time use and gender inequality among older adults in developing Asia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Enabling all older adults to enjoy longer and better lives requires a better understanding of their time-use patterns, determinants, and effects, especially in developing Asia, where most of the world's older population lives. Older people in developing Asia face additional challenges compared to those in developed countries, and older women are even more disadvantaged. Research on how older adults in developing Asia spend their time is growing, aided by national or regional surveys. Studies show they engage in more paid work, less unpaid work, and less leisure than their counterparts in developed East Asian and Western societies, with larger gender gaps in unpaid work. Within developing Asia, gendered time-use patterns vary, reflecting differences in gender norms, family practices, economic opportunities, and public healthcare and pensions. This article identifies research gaps and calls for high-quality longitudinal data and further study on time use and gender inequality in developing Asia.