gender, time use and inequality within the household
TRANSCRIPT
Gender, Time Use and Inequality Within the Household
Rana Hendy
ERF Conference, CairoOctober 24-25, 2015
Assuming Identical Preferences for Men and Women
Assume individual preferences for “quality of lifevariables” to be identical regardless of their gender.
Then, individuals facing the same resource constraintswould choose to be equally healthy, equally educatedand they would choose to work the same total numberof hours either at home or in the market place.
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Women’s Deficit in the Market
Source: GALLUP. % of participation in the workforce among total population. Based on surveys on 136 countries and areas in 2013
-45
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
Glo
bal
MEN
A
Sout
heas
t Asia
Latin
Am
eric
a an
dC
arrib
ean
Non
-EU
Euro
pe
Form
er S
ovie
tUn
ion
EU
East
Asia
Nor
ther
n A
mer
ica
Sub-
Suha
ran
Afri
ca
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Subsistence Work Remains Unaccounted
Source: Hendy (2015)
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Marriage: A Major Determinant of Women’s Employment DecisionWomen married between 1992 and 2012, Egypt
Source: Hendy (2015)
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Motivation
Low labor force participation that is driven by demand-side factors.
But, there is a serious bias in the division of labor within the household that (at least) partly contributes to this gap in women’s participation in the labor market.
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Outline How Do MENA Women Use Their Time? Care economy
Time Use and Happiness
What MENA Women need?
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Time Use Measurement
Typical Time Use Questions: On average, how many hours per week do you personally
spend on paid work (including overtime and second jobs, but excluding travelling to and from work)? and your partner?
On average, how many hours per week do you personally spend on childcare, looking after your family, household members and on household tasks? and your partner?
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Gender Differences in Intra-Household Time Allocations
According to the World Bank report (2012) Women bear disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care
work. Women devote 1 to 3 hours more a day to housework than
men; 2 to 10 times the amount of time a day to care (for children, elderly, and the sick), and 1 to 4 hours less a day to market activities.
Gender inequalities in time use are large and persistent in all countries (UN Women, 2013). When paid and unpaid work are combined, women in
developing countries work more than men, with less time for education, leisure, political participation and self-care.
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Women Work Longer in Total!In most parts of the world, Data shows that women worklonger than men when the “invisible work” done insidethe home is included.
MENA: Lack of data on men’s time use.
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Women Do a Fixed Quantum of Home-Based Work Regardless of theiremployment Status
Source: Hendy (2015)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2006 2012 2006 2012
Employed Not Employed
Ever Married
Hours of market work Hours of housework Hours of carework
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Home-Based Work Increases with Education!
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Not
Em
p.
Empl
oyed
Not
Em
p.
Empl
oyed
Not
Em
p.
Empl
oyed
Not
Em
p.
Empl
oyed
Not
Em
p.
Empl
oyed
Not
Em
p.
Empl
oyed
Not
Em
p.
Empl
oyed
Not
Em
p.
Empl
oyed
Illiterate Less than Int. Intermediate Higher Ed. Illiterate Less than Int. Intermediate Higher Ed.
Never Married Ever Married
Hou
rs
Domestic Work Market Work
Source: Hendy (2015).
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Time Use Changes with Marriage
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Is Being a Housewife Just as Fulfilling as Working for Pay?
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
Agree strongly Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
MENA Average Non-MENA Average
Source: World Value Survey Data, 2010-2014
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Housewives Are Not Happier that Working Women
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
Full T
ime
Part
Time
Hous
ewife
Unem
ploy
ed
Full T
ime
Part
Time
Hous
ewife
Unem
ploy
ed
Full T
ime
Part
Time
Hous
ewife
Unem
ploy
ed
Full T
ime
Part
Time
Hous
ewife
Unem
ploy
ed
Very Happy Rather Happy Not Very Happy Not At All Happy
MENA Non-MENA
Source: World Value Survey Data, 2010-2014
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
In MENA: Among the “Very Happy” Women, Part-time workers represents the largest shares
0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0
AlgeriaBahrain
PalestineIraq
JordanKuwait
LebanonLibya
MoroccoQatarTunisiaTurkeyEgypt
Yemen
UnemployedHousewifePart timeFull time
Source: World Value Survey Data, 2010-2014
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
To sum up
Home-based work represents an important component of women’s use of time and this share is a fixed quantum regardless of the woman’s working status.
Evidence that the number of hours spent on home-based work is decreasing for all women (technology and time saving devices)
Staying at home women are not necessarily happier.
Data shows that unemployment rates for women are rapidly increasing which demonstrates their desire to work in the market place.
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
What MENA Women Need?
More flexible arrangement for women in the market place that take into consideration the double burden issue (professional and family responsibilities) especially needed in the private sector:
Women (especially the most educated and the married ones) need: Part-time/ reduced-time jobs. Commuting arrangements. Shorter working hours (similar to the public employment). Job sharing. Subsidized child care services.
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
What MENA Women Need?
Not necessarily an incentive system that encourages women into the work force.
Rather a system that does not discriminate against them from entering the work force.
Economic growth and job creation for all.
Increasing educational attainment levels which in turn will delay marriage.
Accounting for the care economy in our GDPs.
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015
Thank You
ERF Conference on Gender Equality in MENA, October 24-25, 2015