Abstract
The present study investigated work–family planning and gender role attitudes among Japanese youth. Valid data were obtained from 948 tertiary students having an average age of 19.60 (SD = 1.18). The results showed that most males planned to continue their work, while more than half of the females planned to quit on childbirth. As for time allocation plans, the results reinforced traditional tendencies; with males allocating more time for paid work and leisure, while females allocated more time for household work and childcare. Examination of the relationships between gender role attitudes and work–family planning revealed that females with liberal attitudes are more willing to be involved in the workforce. The relationships between gender role attitudes and time allocation identified by the study showed that people with liberal attitudes also have more balanced time allocation plans about work–family interaction than those without. Implications for education and intervention were discussed.
Highlights
Achieving balance: the current situation in JapanWork–life balance is one of the issues that is capturing the interest of many Japanese citizens, as there is substantial evidence for positive outcomes from striking a better balance between work and family life. Yamamoto and Matsuura (2014) confirmed that Japanese firms understand that there is a positive correlation between work–life balance practices and productivity. Haar, Russo, Sune, and Ollier-Malaterre (2014) demonstrated that work–life balance is a key factor in increasing life satisfaction and promoting mental health across diverse cultures
Time allocation plans The average scores of time allocation for the five activities were calculated for three groups (Table 1)
This study examined work–family planning among Japanese youth, and its relationship to their gender role attitudes
Summary
Achieving balance: the current situation in JapanWork–life balance is one of the issues that is capturing the interest of many Japanese citizens, as there is substantial evidence for positive outcomes from striking a better balance between work and family life. Yamamoto and Matsuura (2014) confirmed that Japanese firms understand that there is a positive correlation between work–life balance practices and productivity. Haar, Russo, Sune, and Ollier-Malaterre (2014) demonstrated that work–life balance is a key factor in increasing life satisfaction and promoting mental health across diverse cultures. Haar, Russo, Sune, and Ollier-Malaterre (2014) demonstrated that work–life balance is a key factor in increasing life satisfaction and promoting mental health across diverse cultures. In reply to this growing attention on work–life balance, the Japanese Government has introduced a variety of strategies. In 2007, it formulated‘Shigoto to seikatsu no chouwa kenshou,’which is synonymous with a work–life balance charter, and updated this in 2010 In line with this charter, the Government launched the‘Kaeru Japan’campaign, which is intended to encourage working people to come back home earlier each day, and the ‘Iku men’ project, which is designed to facilitate greater involvement of fathers in childcare. It has endeavoured to increase the number of nurseries supporting parents with very young dependent children, to help them to successfully combine work and childcare
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