Childcare Responsibilities Research Articles

Residual and emergent: Good mother ideals in China and the role of cultural values

AbstractObjectiveThe study aimed to explore how different groups of people perceive good mother ideals in China and the cultural and sociodemographic profiles of these groups.BackgroundGood mother ideals have changed over time and become increasingly complex. The prevalence of intensive mothering has been supported mainly by media representation research and dominated by Western‐focused studies. How tensions between Confucianism and neoliberalism alter the good mother ideas in contemporary China requires further investigation.MethodFirst, we used an open‐ended survey to collect good mother attributes. Then, we conducted a latent profile analysis with an online survey (N = 449) to divide people into subgroups according to their latent perception structures. Later, we ran multinominal logistic regressions to explore whether cultural values and sociodemographic variables can predict group membership.ResultsCollected attributes (N = 1,162) were organized into five categories: neutrality (37.87%), femininity (25.39%), motherhood (11.53%), family responsibilities (6.71%), and childcare responsibilities (18.5%). Moreover, we identified three groups holding different motherhood beliefs: Whatever, Average, and Perfectionist. Young people had higher odds to be in the Whatever group and held more flexible good mother ideals, and married women were 6.69 times more likely to be in the Perfectionist group than single men. Our findings also indicated that people in the Perfectionist group scored higher on attitudes toward family and Asian values.ConclusionOur research suggested that researchers must distinguish between dominant motherhood representation and lay perceptions of motherhood as well as pay attention to the cultural sensitivity of good mother ideals.

Communication Patterns Between Companies and Female Drivers Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Indonesia

This study aimed to investigate the conditions of Indonesian female drivers in the ride-hailing industry pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on communication patterns between companies in response to changes related to female drivers during these periods. The pandemic has significantly impacted many industries, including ride-hailing, with female drivers being disproportionately affected. Moreover, the pandemic has exacerbated existing workforce challenges for them, such as childcare responsibilities and limited access to transportation. Semistructured interviews with 12 female drivers were conducted in Bandung, Indonesia from March to October 2023. They were asked open-ended questions about their experiences and perspectives regarding their working conditions before and after the pandemic. The results showed that before the pandemic, female drivers faced harsh working conditions, including a higher order cancellation rate than their male counterparts due to social gender stereotypes. After the pandemic, these challenges persisted. They experienced income loss and encountered several abusive customers. Unfortunately, neither the companies nor the government provided adequate support in any of these circumstances. Even though companies have taken steps to protect drivers from coronavirus infection, they have maintained a monopoly and a gender discrimination policy. They have not been transparent about the order allocation system, income deductions, or the criteria for incentive points.

Correction to: Childcare Responsibilities and Parental Labor Market Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Correction to: Childcare Responsibilities and Parental Labor Market Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Grandparental childcare and maternal labor supply in Chinese families with young children: Evidence from the China Family Panel Studies

With the implementation of the three-child policy and delayed retirement policy, the conflicts between childcare responsibility and mothers’ labor supply in China have increased dramatically. The present study utilized data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies to investigate the impacts of grandparental childcare on the labor supply of mothers with children aged 0–6 years. The results of the Probit model and Tobit model indicated that grandparental childcare could significantly increase mother’s labor force participation rate and extend their weekly working hours. The relation of grandparental childcare to mothers’ labor force participation in one-child families was stronger compared with multi-child families. However, its relation to mothers’ working hours in one-child families was smaller than that in multi-child families. Furthermore, the effect of grandparental childcare on mothers’ labor supply was more pronounced when children were younger, particularly for those with children aged 0–2 years. The findings highlight the important role of grandparental childcare and have several implications for family support policies.

Gender disparities in the labor market during COVID-19 lockdowns: Evidence from online job postings and applications in China

We investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on labor market gender differences using a unique dataset of job postings and job applicants in China. We find a “she-cession” in both the national lockdown period (the short run) and afterward (the medium run). Compared to the pre-COVID level, job postings in female (male) dominated industries on average decreased by 38.87 % (37.62 %) and 30.93 % (24.32 %) in the short and medium run, respectively, demonstrating a persistently widening gender gap in labor demand. On the labor supply side, the number of female (male) job applicants decreased by 30.28 % (27.04 %) in the short run but increased by 20.83 % (17.62 %) in the medium run, showing that females search for jobs more actively than males did when the national lockdown was lifted. Hence, the she-cession in China becomes more severe in the post-lockdown period, as more females are competing for fewer available positions. Reduced job openings in contact-intensive industries, unequal intra-household division of childcare responsibilities, and decreases in family savings all contribute to these patterns. Our results have general implications for understanding labor market gender differences in public health crises and economic downturns.

Examining determinants of stunting in Urban and Rural Indonesian: a multilevel analysis using the population-based Indonesian family life survey (IFLS).

In Indonesia, chronic malnutrition leading to stunted growth in children represents a significant issue within the public health domain. The prevalence of stunting varies between urban and rural areas, reflecting disparities in access to nutrition, healthcare, and other socioeconomic factors. Understanding these disparities is crucial for developing targeted interventions to address the issue. The study used data from the fifth wave of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS), which is a national cross-sectional population-based survey conducted across approximately 13 provinces in Indonesia in 2014-2015. Multivariate and Multilevel logistic regression models were utilized in the analysis to determine the factors associated with the prevalence of stunting in Indonesian children. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that among children aged 24-59 months in Indonesia, stunting was associated with the age of the child, birth weight, maternal nutritional status, and residence. Subsequently, the multilevel logistic regression analysis revealed that in rural areas, the age of the child and birth weight exhibited significant associations with stunting. Conversely, in urban areas, stunted children were influenced by 7 factors, including the child's age (months), age of weaning, birth weight (kg), mother and father's age, place of birth, and maternal nutritional status. Variations in childhood stunting between urban and rural regions in Indonesia were observed, indicating a differential prevalence. The study's findings suggests the importance of age-appropriate nutritional support, healthcare interventions, and growth monitoring. Focused interventions are vital, potentially encompassing initiatives such as improving access to maternal and child healthcare services, promoting adequate nutrition during pregnancy and infancy, and facilitate greater parental engagement in childcare responsibilities.

‘The care crisis within’: gender division of labour and care work in middle-class families in Kerala during the pandemic

ABSTRACT This article highlights the facets of gender disparities in care work and emotional labour within dual earning households that have aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online qualitative survey and in-depth interviews carried out among 50 heterosexual, middle-class, and upper-middle-class working parents in Kerala, India, in the post-pandemic period, indicate that working mothers faced time poverty and additional work burden during the lockdown period, while they tussled between work from home and (care) works at home, as external support mechanisms were suspended during the pandemic. The findings illustrate that the disparities in division of labour are immense and are associated with more feminized labour such as cooking and childcare responsibilities, and that the spouses normalize such disparities. I further argue that the glorification and magnification of voluntary involvement of men in care work further problematize the dichotomy. I construe that the egalitarian gender perspectives expressed by the respondents are premised on the concept of gender equality as something to be achieved outside the family, and not within. Here, I illustrate how the working wives and mothers are compelled to over-compensate for ideas of femininity and motherliness associated with the figure of the housewife, through this imposed volunteering of care work.

Acceptability of community health worker and peer supported interventions for ethnic minorities with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative systematic review.

Ethnic minority groups in high income countries in North America, Europe, and elsewhere are disproportionately affected by T2DM with a higher risk of mortality and morbidity. The use of community health workers and peer supporters offer a way of ensuring the benefits of self-management support observed in the general population are shared by those in minoritized communities. The major databases were searched for existing qualitative evidence of participants' experiences and perspectives of self-management support for type 2 diabetes delivered by community health workers and peer supporters (CHWPs) in ethnically minoritized populations. The data were analysed using Sekhon's Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. The results are described within five domains of the framework of acceptability collapsed from seven for reasons of clarity and concision: Affective attitude described participants' satisfaction with CHWPs delivering the intervention including the open, trusting relationships that developed in contrast to those with clinical providers. In considering Burden and Opportunity Costs, participants reflected on the impact of health, transport, and the responsibilities of work and childcare on their attendance, alongside a lack of resources necessary to maintain healthy diets and active lifestyles. In relation to Cultural Sensitivity participants appreciated the greater understanding of the specific cultural needs and challenges exhibited by CHWPs. The evidence related to Intervention Coherence indicated that participants responded positively to the practical and applied content, the range of teaching materials, and interactive practical sessions. Finally, in examining the impact of Effectiveness and Self-efficacy participants described how they changed a range of health-related behaviours, had more confidence in dealing with their condition and interacting with senior clinicians and benefitted from the social support of fellow participants and CHWPs. Many of the same barriers around attendance and engagement with usual self-management support interventions delivered to general populations were observed, including lack of time and resource. However, the insight of CHWPs, their culturally-sensitive and specific strategies for self-management and their development of trusting relationships presented considerable advantages.

Interaction of sedentary behaviour and educational level in breast cancer risk.

This cross-sectional study aims to analyse the relationship between sedentary behaviour and breast cancer (BC) risk from a social perspective. Women aged 45-70 who participated in the Valencia Region Breast Cancer Screening Programme (2018-2019) were included, with a total of 121,359 women analysed, including 506 with cancer and 120,853 without cancer. The response variable was BC (screen-detected) and the main explanatory variable was sedentary behaviour (≤2 / >2-≤3 / >3-≤5 / >5 hours/day, h/d). Nested logistic regression models (M) were estimated: M1: sedentary behaviour adjusted for age and family history of BC; M2: M1 + hormonal/reproductive variables (menopausal status, number of pregnancies, hormone replacement therapy; in addition, months of breastfeeding was added for a subsample of women with one or more live births); M3: M2 + lifestyle variables (body mass index, smoking habits); M4: M3 + socioeconomic variables (educational level, occupation); Final model: M4 + gender variables (childcare responsibilities, family size). Interaction between sedentary behaviour and educational level was analysed in the Final model. Moreover, for the whole sample, postmenopausal women and HR+ BC, the Final model was stratified by educational level. Sedentary behaviour was associated with an increased risk of BC with a nearly statistically significant effect in the Final model (>2-≤3 h/d: OR = 1.22 (0.93-1.61); >3-≤5 h/d: OR = 1.14 (0.86-1.52); >5: OR = 1.19 (0.89-1.60)). For women with a low educational level, sitting more than 2 h/d was associated with an increased risk of BC in the whole sample (>2-≤3 h/d OR = 1.93 (1.19-3.21); in postmenopausal women (>2-≤3 h/d, OR = 2.12 (1.18-2.96), >5h/d OR = 1.75 (1.01-3.11)) and in HR+ BC (>2-≤3h/d, OR = 2.15 (1.22-3.99)). Similar results were observed for women with one or more live births. Conclusions Sitting >2 h/d is associated with BC risk in women with low educational level, especially in postmenopausal women and those with live births.

Liability for Violation of the Obligation of Care in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Poland

The problem of non-fulfilment or improper fulfillment by parents (persons who replace them) of childcare responsibilities exists in all countries, regardless of the form of government, state system, and income level of the population. Ukraine has been in the process of integration with the European Union for a long time, so it is useful to study the foreign legislative approach to the regulation of responsibility for the violation of these obligations. The purpose of the article is to study the Polish experience of establishing criminal liability for non-fulfilment of child care obligations. In the research dogmatic, systemic-structural, statistical, historical-legal, formal-legal methods were used. Attention is paid to the legislation of the Republic of Poland, which provides for the right and duty of parents to care for and raise children. The genesis of the criminal law regarding responsibility for violation of these duties in the Criminal Code of 1932, 1969, and 1997 is given. Statistical data on the number of criminal proceedings and persons convicted of this criminal offense (2009–2020) are summarized. The peculiarities of the structure of the crime composition provided for in Art. 210 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Poland were studied; objective and subjective signs. The analysis was carried out on the basis of the doctrine of Polish criminal law and the practice of courts of general jurisdiction, in particular the Supreme Court of the Republic of Poland. The practice of the Constitutional Tribunal of the Republic of Poland was used. Based on the results of the research, conclusions were formulated regarding objects of criminal law protection; objective and subjective side and subject composition. The differentiation of criminal liability in case of causing death to the victim was noted. The legislator also provided in cases of this crime the possibility of notifying the competent family court about the expediency of deprivation or limitation of parental or guardian rights in case of committing a crime to the detriment of a minor or in complicity with him. The separation of an independent structural section (subsection) in the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which includes criminal offenses against the family, as well as the improvement of criminal legal measures against persons who have committed such crimes, is supported.

Does maternity leave reform impact on the labour supply of the elderly? Evidence from a natural experiment in Vietnam

AbstractThe aging population has been rising rapidly in every country, slowing the labour force and causing lower per capita growth. Many policies incentivize working in old age as it can alleviate the challenges of the aging population. This study examines the impacts of the extended maternity leave reform in Vietnam on elderly labour market outcomes. As grandparents' childcare responsibility may be reduced by maternal childcare following the extended maternal leave, especially for elderly living with children smaller than 1 year old, the reform gives older adults or grandparents more flexibility to join the labour market. Using the difference‐in‐differences model, we find that older people in the treatment group are more likely to return to the labour market following the reform implementation. The effect is positive and most robust for the self‐employment group rather than waged employment and for males rather than females. Our study suggests that there is a need for a policy design to shift public finance into the healthcare and pension system.

The Precarity of Progress: Implications of a Shifting Gendered Division of Labor for Relationships and Well-Being as a Function of Country-Level Gender Equality

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a shift toward a more traditional division of labor–one where women took greater responsibility for household tasks and childcare than men. We tested whether this regressive shift was more acutely perceived and experienced by women in countries with greater gender equality. Cross-cultural longitudinal survey data for women and men (N = 10,238) was collected weekly during the first few months of the pandemic. Multilevel modelling analyses, based on seven waves of data collection, indicated that a regressive shift was broadly perceived but not uniformly felt. Women and men alike perceived a shift toward a more traditional division of household labor during the first few weeks of the pandemic. However, this perception only undermined women’s satisfaction with their personal relationships and subjective mental health if they lived in countries with higher levels of economic gender equality. Among women in countries with lower levels of economic gender equality, the perceived shift predicted higher relationship satisfaction and mental health. There were no such effects among men. Taken together, our results suggest that subjective perceptions of disempowerment, and the gender role norms that underpin them, should be considered when examining the gendered impact of global crisis.

PERIODISATION OF CHANGES IN STATE FAMILY POLICY IN POLAND BETWEEN 1989 AND 2022

The subject of this article is the periodization of changes in the state family policy in Poland that took place in the years 1989–2022, in order to systematize on this basis the main directions, priorities and instruments of the title policy as well as the most significant events, activities and turning points in a given area. This analysis shows a multi-aspect perspective on the assessment of the evolution of family policy in Poland in the years 1989–2022. Indicates, among others: periods in which there was a significant expansion of the scope of state intervention in the functioning of the family, especially through a significant increase in expenditure on financial instruments, for example after 2015. However, the development of service and leave instruments is particularly important, which took place in particular in 2013 as part of the "Good climate for the family" program. Due to the low fertility rate, financial difficulties of many families and difficulties in combining child care responsibilities with paid work, family policy should be based to a greater extent on investments and social services.

Barriers to Women Professionals’ Career Growth during Covid-19 in India

The slow advancement of women in their workplaces remains a social concern for corporates and industry experts across the globe (International Labour Organisation Report, 2018). During the covid-19 pandemic, the advancement of women got significantly impacted owing to the increased burden of domestic responsibilities and other personal challenges. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Report (2021), women in India were seven times more likely to lose their jobs during the pandemic and eleven times more likely to not return to work after the job loss. With the Covid-19 pandemic on the rise and spreading, companies were forced to redesign their work systems, initiate and adopt a remote-work setup option. While, a majority of companies continue with the hybrid model, some companies are slowly eliminating it and returning to the regular office norms as before. This change is likely to impact women, especially the working mothers, owing to the uneven distribution of child-care responsibilities, domestic work, etc. Additionally, conventional barriers such as discriminatory practices, mentoring, networking challenges and role conflicts are expected to persist or rather increase in the changed-working models – be it the hybrid, remote, or completely offline system. The present study focuses on identifying the constraints faced by the Indian women striving against the current for their career advancements, both during the Covid-19 pandemic disruption phase and post-pandemic scenario. The insights from the study will be helpful to gain a cumulative understanding about the challenges faced by women owing to the emerging work system and in addressing the future concerns more systematically.

Childcare Responsibilities and Parental Labor Market Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Childcare Responsibilities and Parental Labor Market Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Grandparenting and the Mental Well-being of Selected Filipino Grandparents

This study determined the impact of caring for grandchildren on the mental well-being of elderly grandparents. Specifically, it determined the length of grandparenting, number and ages of grandchildren living with them, influential grandparenting experiences, level of mental well-being, and impact of the grandparenting role to the mental well-being of the grandparents. Respondents were 96 Filipino senior citizens residing in Calamba City, Laguna. An interview schedule was utilized for data gathering. Results showed a weak relationship between age of grandchildren (p = 0.284; p > 0.05) and number of grandchildren (p =0.780; p > 0.05) with the level of mental well-being. The length of grandparenting (p = 0.011; p < 0.05) had a significant effect on the level of mental well-being of the grandparents. Regression analysis showed that those who became grandparents at the age of 46-55 are more likely to have mental well-being scores five times lower than those who do not belong to this age category. Grandparenting may become stressful due to the added responsibility of childcare. However, grandparenting is considered a fulfilling responsibility and gives a rewarding feeling. In totality, grandparenting positively heightens mental well-being.

A Narrative Review-Participation of Fathers in Child Health Care in India

Abstract Review studies of the father’s role in child care and father involvement, attitudes, and values associated with it, and strategies for promoting their participation. This review aims to analyze fathers’ involvement in child care and father behavior, as well as associated values and strategies for development. To study the father-child connection and factors such as the child’s social behavior, academic performance, and health-related psychological factors. They are more sensitive, loving, and encouraging toward their young children. When it comes to their young children, they are more receptive, affectionate, and assured. They are also better at maintaining their composure when dealing with rebellious toddlers. A child’s emotional and social development is significantly influenced by how fathers cooperate with their children through play. Compared to mothers, fathers spend a far larger volume of their one-on-one time with infants and preschoolers engaging in stimulating play activities. PubMed and Google Scholar Searches were conducted using Medical Subject Headings terms and related keywords. This study examined the various reviews on the relationship between the roles of fathers in childcare and the factors that may influence the same. Traditional gender norms in child care influence the group of people’s images of fathers’ obligation and serve as a barrier to their involvement in the community. In most populations, fathers can support their families financially. They act as positive role models for their children, defend their families from harm, and exercise control over their wives, children, and other family members. Fathers may provide for and nurture their children. Fathers play and teach their children alone or hold them when their mothers are busy. Interventions focused on improving fathers’ and mothers ideas and attitudes about child care, and the relevance of shared childcare duties may improve fathers’ engagement. Fathers’ participation has various impacts on the child’s healthy development of character, social skills, understanding, intellect, academic achievement, gender roles, morality, and emotion. Fathers’ participation in childcare is affected by family and society, and fathers’ personalities affect children’s personalities to some extent. Father involvement, results also revealed that father involvement was low in childcare responsibilities only; however, other subareas of involvement were high. It was found that especially mothers were responsible as primary caregivers for child care.

Gender Gap in Parental Leave Among Physicians in Japan.

To investigate the gender gap in parental leave uptake among physicians and explore the burden of childcare on female physicians compared with their male counterparts. The focus was on the rate for taking childcare leave as an indicator of the gender gap in the burden of childcare. Data from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's national database were analyzed to investigate the population ratio of physicians who took parental leave. The study included male and female physicians from different years and prefectures. Gender disparity in parental leave uptake among physicians was observed. On average, male physicians take parental leave at a rate of 0.05%, while female physicians have a much higher rate of 4.5%. Around 1,400 to 1,700 female physicians took parental leave annually, compared with only 20-70 male physicians. This highlights the disproportionate burden of childcare on female physicians. The study demonstrates a considerable childcare burden on female physicians due to the rarity of male physicians taking parental leave. The findings underscore the urgency of addressing the gender gap in parental leave uptake among physicians and promoting gender equality in childcare responsibilities. Future research and policy initiatives should focus on achieving a more equitable distribution of parental leave to alleviate the burden on female healthcare professionals and improve work-life balance in the medical profession.

Navigating The Media Maze: Perceived Work-Life Balance Among Women Journalists

Maintaining a balance between work and personal life is a dream for anyone with multiple roles to play in their daily routines. Women journalists are no exception, and their work requires them to possess a broad range of knowledge and skills to deliver accurate and timely information to the public. Despite having multiple responsibilities in their personal lives, women journalists have embraced this challenge. However, issues such as long working hours, inflexible work schedules, excessive workloads, the dual responsibility of childcare, workplace discrimination, lack of support from supervisors and family, and the spillover of work into family life can make it challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This study aims to explore the perception of women journalists towards work-life balance. The Spillover and Role Theories offer insights into the challenges faced by women journalists in balancing their personal and professional lives. The study conducted in-depth interviews with 16 journalists, including single and married women, working in various environments at the media headquarters and state bureau. The perception towards work-life balance was categorised into three themes: work and family environment, mental well-being, and personality traits. This article highlights the difficulties that women journalists face in managing their diverse roles during the convergence period of the media industry and emphasises the need to address work-life balance concerns in the Malaysian media sector. Keywords: Women, journalists, work-life balance, Spillover Theory, Role Theory.

Gender inequities in ENT: Insights from women speakers at American Head and Neck Society meetings.

Gender inequity exists across national speakers at American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) conferences. This qualitative study explores potential causes of this disparity by surveying women invited to speak at AHNS between 2007 and 2019 and examining advice, resources, and meaningful actions from "those who made it." An internet search for contact information for the 131 female AHNS was performed. An electronic survey was distributed via email. Deidentified qualitative responses were coded by two independent researchers into themes. Themes characterize barriers that female head and neck (HN) surgeons face and describe ways to mitigate the impact of these for the next generation. Contact information for 73/131 female AHNS speakers was obtained via internet search. Email responses were received from 22/73 (30%). Of those, respondents specialized in otolaryngology (n = 17), medical oncology (n = 2), palliative care (n = 1), vascular surgery (n = 1), and thoracic surgical oncology (n = 1). All speakers worked in academic settings at varying stages of their career with 81.8% (18/22) of respondents fellowship-trained (primarily HN surgery). Concerns about gender disparity in ENT were grouped into the following themes: (1) recruiting women to ENT, (2) removing barriers to career advancement, (3) diversifying ENT's national presence, and (4) improving the broader culture of HN surgery. Respondents emphasized a need for diversifying leadership, early exposure to otolaryngology in medical school, and connecting students with female role models. Outstanding research, involvement at annual meetings, and committee membership were consistently deemed important for establishing a national presence in the field. Implicit bias, "boys clubs" culture, and burdensome childcare responsibilities were described as barriers to career advancement. While encouraging more women to enter otolaryngology residencies, increasing the number female role models and establishing strong mentoring networks may help to mitigate challenges. Meaningful progress requires the efforts of both male and female allies within the specialty. Simple solutions, such as educating on implicit bias, removing demographics from applications, and eliminating hidden penalties for maternity leave, may help improve diversity and mitigate barriers to career progression for underrepresented groups within ENT.