Time Use of Employed Mothers in Korea: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Abstract

This study examines the time use patterns of full-time employed Korean mothers who did not use outside household help. To gain insight into the potential work overload of employed mothers, their time use patterns were compared with those of unemployed mothers and of employed mothers in Japan and the United States. Results show that employed mothers in Korea allocate considerably less time to physiological and social and recreational activities than nonemployed Korean mothers. Employed mothers in Korea spend considerably larger amounts of time in work activities and significantly less time in physiological activities than their counterparts in Japan and the United States.