the politics of parenting and its impact on women‘s employment case studies in toronto, zurich and...

The Politics of Parenting and its Impact on Women‘s Employment

Case Studies in Toronto, Zurich and WarsawReport

Dr. Justyna Szachowicz-Sempruch

2

Research questions

The research data collection focuses on the effects of socio-economic structures of parenting (especially in form of care-giving), and how the

traditional parental roles have been already transgressed and challenged. The major conflict areas as contributing to the emergence of the new

formulations of parenting:

(1) To what extent professional development and employment opportunities continue to be regulated by traditional gender roles

(2) Do parents with professional aspirations, and mothers in particular, want to stay at home? If they are offered opportunities to combine work and family,

do they take them or rather assume that these two are not compatible practices?

(3) How do we value and experience ‘the value’ of parenting? What are the relationships between sexuality, desire and gendered norms of care-giving?

Results are based on interviews (2004-2005) with working parents between 25-45 years of age of 1) different ethnicities and 2) sexual orientation, with 3)

post-secondary education, 4) living with child/ren under 10 years old in Toronto, Zurich/Basel and Warsaw.

3

Choice of countries / Urban perspectives

Toronto (Canada, a highly developed North American economy characterized as ‘one and a half breadwinner model’ with a relatively egalitarian approach to gender and sexualities)

Features: 1) Decreasing one breadwinner model; Increasing 1,5 and dual breadwinner model; 2) Limited good quality public childcare; 3) Fast increasing precarious work pattern; Very limited availability of part-time employment allowing the

continuance of a professional career; 4) Limited care-giving support by the extended family; Working mothers’ double burden; Visibly increasing

value of shared parenting/ care-giving

Zurich (Switzerland, a non-EU state representing a highly developed European economy characterized as ‘continental’ welfare regime or ‘breadwinner/caregiver model’ with a conservative approach to gender and sexualities)

Features: 1) Decreasing one breadwinner model; Increasing 1,5 and dual breadwinner model;2) Limited public childcare service; 3) Slowly increasing precarious work pattern; Very limited availability of part-time employment allowing

the continuance of a professional career; 4) Limited care-giving support by the extended family; Working mothers’ double burden; Slowly increasing

value of shared parenting/ care-giving

Warsaw (Poland, a new EU member representing a transition economy, former-socialist welfare regime tentatively characterized as ‘dual breadwinner model with female domestic responsibilities’ witha very conservative approach to gender and sexualities)

Features: Decreasing dual breadwinner model; Increasing unemployment; Decreasing quality of public childcare services; Fast Increasing precarious work patterns; Very limited availability of part-time employment, no part-

time; Strong care-giving support by the extended family; Working mothers’ double burden; Slowly increasing

value of shared parenting

Expectations and Impact of Parenting: everyday life


Summary

Hypothesis 1: Most parents do not expect that their lives would change to a degree that they do (was only partly proved).

Background: Parenting has a great impact on all dimensions of everyday life. Dimensions mostly influenced are personal time, mothers’ professional careers and fathers’ interpersonal relations. Hypothesis 2: More women than men experience significant changes in relation to the way they organize their day and to the amount of domestic chores (was proved). Hypothesis 3: There are significant differences in the degree of parenting impact in all dimensions of life between countries (was partly proved).

Background: There are significant differences in the degree of parenting impact on the relation with partner between Poland and Canada (the impact in Poland is more negative). The range of personal interests mostly declines in Switzerland and self-confidence after becoming a parent clearly improves in Poland. Day organization changes most significantly in Switzerland.


Summary

Hypothesis 4: Most women do not expect to invest as much time into care-giving as they do (was only partly proved).

Background: About 40% of mothers in Canada „didn‘t think about it“ and another about 30% expected that they would have to invest the whole day (24 hours). In fact, most of the mothers in all 3 settings invest between 1 and 6 hours a day into care-giving. Over 15% of all respondents invest 7 or more hours into care-giving. A number of respondents were not able to provide a clear answer to the question about their expectations. Most responded to the actual impact: how it had been and how many hours they had actually invested in care-giving. Hypothesis 5: There are no significant differences between countries in relation to the time women invest into care-giving (was proved).


Summary

Hypothesis 6: Men invest less time in care-giving than women (was partly proved) Background: There are some significant differences based on qualitative data (i.e. looking at the few examples of fathers who have equal access to family time = work equally long as mothers outside of home) Hypothesis 7: Both men and women very much enjoy parenting experience. (was proved)Background: Answers of both men and women vary between „much“ and „very much“.

9

8%13%

38%42%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

positive no impact negative bothpositive

andnegative

Toronto Zurich Warsaw

Almost 40% of Polish parents expect that their lifestyle and relationship with partner would negatively change after the birth of their child... Canadian parents are much less pessimistic.

N=20 N=21 N=24

Question: What impact did you expect would your parenting have on your lifestyle and life with your partner? All parents

The difference between Canada and Poland is statistically highly significant

10

9%

17%

24%

50%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

positive no impact negative both positiveand negative

16%

42%

11%

32%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

positive no impact negative both positiveand negative

women men

The difference between women and men is statistically significant

N=46 N=19

Question: What impact did you expect would parenting have on your lifestyle and life with your partner?

Over 40% of men expect that their lifestyle and relationship will stay the same after becoming a parent.

11

0%

17%

0%

17%

44%

22%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

verynegative

negative rathernegative

ratherpositive

positive verypositive

19%

0% 0%

29% 29%

24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

verynegative

negative rathernegative

ratherpositive

positive verypositive

4%

9%

52%

0%

4%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

v ery

negativ e

negativ e rather

negativ e

rather

positiv e

positiv e v ery

positiv e


More than 60% of Polish parents experience negative changes in relation to their life with a partner. Most Canadian parents, as they expected, experience rather positive changes.

N=18 N=21 N=23

Question: What impact did you expect would parenting have on your relationship?All parents

The difference between Toronto and Warsaw is statistically significant

Mean=4.6 Mean=3.6Mean=4.2

Scale: 1=very negative,2=negative, 3=rather negative, 4=rather positive, 5=positive, 6=very positive

12

0%

4%

0%

21%

47%

28%

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

very little little rather little much very much extremelymuch

0%

5%

10%

40% 40%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

very little little rather little much very much extremelymuch

women menQuestion: “How did your parenting impact on your day organization?“


N=47 N=20

The hypothesis that “more women than men experience significant changes in relation to the way they organize their day” was proved correct, whereby the meanings as indicating on the scale are rather “gender elastic”.

Mean=4.9 Mean=4.3

Scale: 1=very little, 2=little, 3=rather little, 4=much, 5=very much, 6=extremely much.

13

0% 0%

11%

26%

57%

6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

very little little rather little much verymuch

extremelymuch

0%

10%

15%

45%

30%

0%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

very little little ratherlittle

much verymuch

extremelymuch

women men

Question: “How did your parenting impact on the amount of domestic chores?“

Women experience also more changes than men in relation to the amount of domestic chores.

N=47 N=20

The difference between women and men is statistically highly significant

Mean=4.6 Mean=4.0


14

4,1

4,7

1 2 3 4 5 6

amount ofdomestic

chores

day orga-nization

4,5

5,2

1 2 3 4 5 6


4,5

4,4

1 2 3 4 5 6

There are few differences in relation to the amount of domestic chores and to the day organization between the countries. Question: “How did your parenting impact on the amount of domestic chores and your day organization?“ All parentsComparison of means

very extremlylittle much

Significant differences: between Toronto and Warsaw in the amount of domestic chores, between Toronto and Zurich and between Warsaw and Zurich in the day organization.




15

2,9

2,9

2,4

3,6

4,2

3,1

4,0

3,8

1 2 3 4 5

3,0

2,9

2,0

3,2

4,2

3,3

3,8

4,1

1 2 3 4 5


3,1

2,8

2,7

3,8

4,0

3,0

3,6

3,7

1 2 3 4 5

The range of personal interests declined in all countries but mostly in Switzerland. The health also declines after becoming a parent.

Question: Which of the following areas declined mostly after you have become a parent?Comparison of means

declined stayed improved a lot the same a lot

critical thinking

discrimination-awareness

interp. relationships

family life

self-confidence

range of pers. interests

health

social or polit. engagement



Scale: 1=declined a lot , 2=declined, 3=stayed the same, 4=improved, 5=improved a lot.

* *

****

significant differences*

Significant differences: between Canada and Poland in the impact on awareness or discrimination and between Switzerland and Poland in the impact on self-confidence as well as on the range of personal interests.

16

The impact of parenthood on daily life seems to be similar for both women and men. Most negatively affected are personal interests. Fathers’ interpersonal relationships decline whereas mothers’ increase.

3,0

2,8

2,3

3,5

4,2

3,2

3,8

3,9

1 2 3 4 5

3,0

3,0

2,7

3,5

4,0

2,8

3,7

3,8

1 2 3 4 5

women men


critical thinking

discrimination-awareness

interpersonal relationships

family life

self-confidence

personal interests

health

Social/ political engagement



Comparison of meanssignificant differences*

Most significant differences between genders are in relation to interpersonal relationships and health issues.

* *

17

0% 0% 0%

20%

63%

16%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

very little little rather little much verymuch

extremelymuch

0% 0% 0%

50% 50%

0%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


much verymuch

extremelymuch

women men

Both women and men enjoy parenthood but women are much more enthusiastic.

Question: Do you enjoy parenting?

N=49 N=20


Mean=4.0 Mean=3.5


Impact of parenting on professional employment

Impact of parenting on professional employment.

Summary

Hypothesis 1: Most women expect that parenthood will have a negative impact on their employment opportunities (proved).

Background: Over 50% of women expect that parenting will have a negative impact on their employment, whereas men tend not „to think about it“. Over 40% of women and 80% of men expect to return to work immediately or within a couple of weeks after the child‘s birth. Over 50% of women expected that they would stop working for 6 or more months after the child‘s birth. Only about 10% of interviewed fathers expected to interrupt paid work up to 1 year after the child‘s birth. These differences are significant.

Impact of parenthood on the professional employment.

Summary

Hypothesis 2: Women‘s professional employment is much more negatively influenced by parenting than men‘s (proved)Background: Women‘s income, promotion opportunities and employment stability become significantly lower after they become mothers, whereas men do not feel that their employment is negatively influenced by parenthood. Moreover, many men declare a rise of income after becoming a parent. Significantly more women (71%) than men (25%) modify their working time (mostly in form of work reduction) after becoming a parent. Hypothesis 3: The impact of parents‘ professional employment is different in the three countries (was partly proved). Background: There is a significant difference between Switzerland and Poland in the impact of parenthood on promotion opportunities (which most significantly decline in Switzerland). Generally the impact in Poland is the smallest.

21

0%

14%

56%

30%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

positive I didn't thinkabout it

negative other

5%

52%

19%

24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

positive I didn't thinkabout it

negative other

women men


N=50 N=21

Question: What impact did you expect parenting would have on your employment opportunities?

Over 50% of women in all three locations expect that having a child would have a negative impact on their employment opportunities.

22

20%22%

34%

18%

6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

expected towork

immediately

after coupleof weeks

up to 6months later

up to 1 yearlater

after severalyears

74%

16%

0%

11%

0%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

expected towork

immediately

after coupleof weeks

up to 6months later

up to 1 yearlater

after severalyears

women men

The answers differ significantly.

N=50 N=19

Question: Did you expect to work in your specialisation after becoming parent?

Over 50% of women in all three locations expected that they would return to work after 6 months or more. The vast majority of men expected to work immediately after the birth of their child.

23

4% 4%

8%

35%38%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

very little little rather little

much very much extremelymuch

10%

15%

45%

5%

25%

0%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%


much verymuch

extremelymuch

women men

Childbirth strongly affects women’s professional tasks, whereby the value meanings on the scale in relation to professional tasks are much more gender neutral (not gender elastic) than in relation to domestic chores.

N=48 N=20


Mean=4.3 Mean=3.2


Question: What changes did your childbirth cause in relation to your professional tasks?

24

Motherhood has a primary impact on women’s decline of income and promotion opportunities. Men’s income, promotion opportunities and employment stability are not negatively affected by parenthood.

2,8

2,4

2,4

1 2 3 4 5

3,0

3,0

3,3

1 2 3 4 5

women men


income

promotion opportunities

employment stability



Question: Which of the following areas declined mostly after you have become a parent?

Compare of means


*

*

25

2.9

2.7

2.6

1 2 3 4 5

2,7

2,3

2,4

1 2 3 4 5


3,0

2,7

3,0

1 2 3 4 5

Income and promotion opportunities decline most drastically in Zurich.

All parentsCompare of means





**


income

promotion opportunities

employment stability

Significant differences between Zurich and Warsaw

26

71%

29%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

yes no

25%

75%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

yes no

women men

The difference between women and men is statistically highly significant

N=49 N=20

Question: Did you modify your working time after the birth of child?

It is mostly women who modify their working time after the birth of the child.

27

18%

26%

34%

8%

14%10%

14%

62%

14%

0%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

decreased stayed thesame

increased oth./firstjob

studies/inactiveemp.

18%

26% 26%

2%

28%

5%

48%

38%

0%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

decreased stayed thesame

increased oth./first job studies/inactiveemp.

women men

Income before becoming a parent Income as a parent

Women N=50Men N=21

Question: What was your last job before becoming a parent? - your incomeQuestion: What was your first job after becoming a parent? - your income

28% of women become “economically inactive” after becoming a parent, whereas men’s wages stabilize between “the same” and “increased” income.

28

58%

71%

28%

29%

14%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

women men

32%

71%

40%

24%28%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

women men

studies/in.emp.

part time

full time

Time before becoming a parent Time as a parent

Women N=50Men N=21

Question: What was your last job before becoming a parent? - full- or part-time?Question: What was your first job after becoming a parent? - full- or part-time?

Women and men

Fathers’ working time stays the same. Only 32% of women work full time after they become mothers.

29

52% 52%

28%

43%

20%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

women men

44%

62%

18%

24%

38%

14%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

women men

studies/in.emp.temporary/casualfixed term

fixed or temp. before becoming a parent fixed or temp. as a parent

Women N=50Men N=21

Question: What was your last job before becoming a parent? - fixed or temporary position?Question: What was your first job after becoming a parent? - fixed or temporary position?

Whereas men and women stand equally in fixed employment contract before becoming a parent, mothers, significantly more than fathers, switch into temporary positions or become “economically inactive”

30

52%48%

36% 43%

12% 10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

women men

34%

57%

28%

38%

10%

28%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

women men

studies/in.emp.

other

not typicalhours

typicalhours

Working hours before becoming parent Working hours as a parent

Women N=50Men N=21

Question: What was your last job before becoming a parent? - did you work typical hours?Question: What was your first job after becoming a parent? - did you work typical hours?

Mothers tend to work outside of typical (7-5) working hours, whereas fathers’ employment in regular working hours increases.

31

14%5%

72%95%

14%

0%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

women men

10%5%

62%

95%

28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

women men

studies/ in.emp.

employee

self-emp.

Self-employed before becoming parent Self-employed as a parent

Women N=50Men N=21

Question: What was your last job before becoming a parent? - were you self-employed?Question: What was your first job after becoming a parent? - were you self-employed?

Self-employment does not seem to provide a venue to resolve work-life pressures…

32

8% 8%

14%12%

28%

22%

8%

0% 0%

10%

5%

29%

57%

0%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

manual/service

admin./technical

educa-tional

cleric./healthcare

aca-demic

mana-gerial

miss.

0%

4%

12%

8%

24% 24%

28%

0% 0%

5%

10% 10%

71%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

manual /service

admin./technical

educa-tional

cleric. /healthcare

aca-demic

mana-gerial

miss.

womenmen

Type of work before becoming a parent Type of work as a parent

Women N=50Men N=21

Question: What was your last job before becoming a parent? - type of work?Question: What was your first job after becoming a parent? - type of work?

Men do not appear in such job sectors as manual work or administrative service; fathers tend to leave academia and concentrate on managerial positions. Women’s positions in managerial jobs and, to a lesser degree, in academia decrease.

When and why do people become parents?

When and why do people become parents?

Summary

Hypothesis 1: There are differences between countries as to when people decide/want to become parents (was proved).Background: Polish men and women think about starting a family at a much earlier stage of their lives (average age 26) than in Canada (over 30 in average).

Hypothesis 2: There are differences between countries as to why people decide/want to become parents (was not proved). Background: The reasons why people want to become parents are similar in all three countries. There is only one significant difference between Toronto and Warsaw in relation to the factor „Improving professional image“, which plays a role in Toronto, while it is completely not important in Warsaw.

35

5%0%

30% 30%

25%

5% 5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

18-20 21-23 24-26 27-29 30-32 33-35 36-38 notsure,never

4%0%

17%21%

33%

8%

0%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

18-20 21-23 24-26 27-29 30-32 33-35 36-38 notsure,never

Question: When did you think about starting a family for the first time?


11%

4%

44%

11%

22%

0% 0%

7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

18-20 21-23 24-26 27-29 30-32 33-35 36-38 notsure,never

Mean=30.7 Mean=28,8 Mean=26.0

60% of Canadians think for the first time about starting a family after they are 30 years old.

The differences between Canada and Poland and between Switzerland and Poland are statistically significant.

All parents

36

32,3

31,3

20 30 40 50

When didyour

partnerbecome a

parent

When didyou

becomemother?

32,5

29,7

20 30 40 50

Question: When did you become a mother and when did your partner become a parent?


33,0

28,7

20 30 40 50

On average, Canadian women become mothers after they are 30 years old. Polish mothers are clearly the youngest.

Women onlyCompare of means

significant differences

*

**

Age

37

1,1

1,1

2,7

1,3

1,5

2,5

2,8

3,6

1 2 3 4

1,5

1,3

2,1

1,3

1,3

2,4

2,6

3,1

1 2 3 4


1,2

1,2

2,6

1,2

2,2

2,8

3,6

1,0

1 2 3 4

The most important reason why both women and men decide to become parents is the “wish to experience parenthood”.


wish to experience parenthood

your partner‘s wish for a child

introducing an important change in your life

improving your professional image

wish to stop working and stay at home

age factor

unemployment or limited possib. to find a job

gaining fin. supp. from partner or welfare org.


not rather important very important important important



**

Question: What are the major reasons for becoming a parent?

38

1,4

1,2

2,6

1,2

1,1

2,3

2,5

3,4

1 2 3 4

1,1

1,1

2,1

1,2

1,5

2,4

3,4

3,6

1 2 3 4

women men

The partner’s wish for a child is an important reason to become a parent for many men.


wish to experience parenthood

your partner‘s whish for a child

introducing an important change in your life

improving your professional image

wish to stop working and stay at home

age factor

unemployment or limited possib. to find a job

gaining fin. supp. from partner or welfare org.




*

*

*

Question: What are the major reasons for becoming a parent?

Childcare organisation

Child care centers play a crucial part in the organization of care in all three locations, most distinctly in Toronto. 60% of Canadians bring their less than 1 year old child to a child care center. Polish children are much older when they begin to attend a child care center. Expectations to receive help (in terms of baby-sitting time and financial support) from the extended family vary between the countries, and are the strongest in Poland. 50% of Canadian parents never expect any type of help from their extended family.Most important type of help provided by the extended family is the “joy of it” and “occasional baby-sitting times”. Financial help is most common in Poland.56% of fathers in Warsaw take care of children when mothers work, in comparison with 33% in Toronto. The least care-focused are fathers in Zurich (15%).41 % of relatives provide most often child care in Warsaw, whereas it is only 11% in Zurich and 0% in Toronto.On the contrary, mothers in Toronto (40%) and Zurich (42%) rely most often on child care centers in comparison with 11% in Warsaw.Interestingly, it is Warsaw that appears to have most accessible child care centers. Over 50% of parents in Warsaw found a place in a child care center immediately, in comparison with 35% in Toronto and 21% in Zurich.

Childcare organisation and parental satisfaction

Summary

41

15%

35%

50%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

regular help occasionalhelp/in

emergency

never/no familyor far away

13%

67%

21%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


emergency



7%

70%

22%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


emergency


All parents

The majority of Polish and Swiss parents expect occasional help in care work from the extended family. 50% of Canadian parents never expect such help.

Question: Did you expect help from the extended family?

N=20 N=27N=24

42

1,6

1,1

2,0

2,0

2,9

1 2 3 4

1,41

1,21

2,77

2,13

3,04

1 2 3 4


1,96

1,44

2,51

2,03

3,37

1 2 3 4

Most important type of help provided by the extended family is the “joy of it” and “occasional baby-sitting times”. Financial help is most common in Warsaw.


Spontaneous joy/interest

regular baby-sitting times

occasional baby-sitting times

considerate financial support

some financial support





**

Question: What type of help received from your extended family was most important?

43

33%

42%

17%

8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

most often next mostoften

third mostoften

dosn'tapply

15%

35%30%

20%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


third mostoften

doesn'tapply

Question: Who takes care of your child when you work? - your partner


56%

33%

0

11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


third mostoften

doesn'tapply

Partners take care of children most often in Warsaw.

Women in a relation only

44

0%

11%

33%

56%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


third mostoften

dosn'tapply

11%

21%16%

53%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


third mostoften

doesn'tapply

Question: Who takes care of your child when you work ? - Relatives


44%

39%

6%

11%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


third mostoften

doesn'tapply

Relatives take care of children most often in Warsaw.

Women only

45

40%

30%

10%

20%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

mostoften

next mostoften

third mostoften

dosn'tapply

42%

32%

0%

26%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


third mostoften

doesn'tapply

Question: Who takes care of your child when you work ? - childcare center


11%

56%

6%

27%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


third mostoften

doesn'tapply

Child care centers play a significant role in all three countries.

Women only

46

95%

5%0%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

yes no other

75%

13% 12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

yes no other

Question: Did you consider bringing your child to any childcare service on regular basis ?


70%

30%

0%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

yes no other

Most parents in Toronto bring their child to a child care center on a regular basis, whereby the understanding of “regularity” varies considerably across countries.

N=20 N=27N=24

All parents

47

25%

35%

20%

10%

0%

5%

0%

5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1-6m.

7-12m.

13-18m.

19-24m.

25-30m.

31-36m.

37+ miss.

21%

29%

13% 13%

0%

4%

8%

12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1-6m.

7-12m.

13-18m.

19-24m.

25-30m.

31-36m.

37+ miss.

Question: How old was your child when you first consider to bring it to a child care center on regular basis ?


0%4% 4%

22%

11%

18%

11%

30%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1-6 m. 7-12m.

13-18m.

19-24m.

25-30m.

31-36m.

37+ miss.

60% of Canadians bring their less than 1 year old child to a child care center. Polish children are much older when they begin to attend a child care center.

N=20 N=27N=24

All parents

Age in months

The difference between Canada and Poland and between Switzerland and Poland are significant.

48

35%

25% 25%

0%

5%

0%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

immed. 1-3 m. 4-6 m. 7-9 m. 10-12m.

+12 m. other

21%

13%

17%

8%

17%

4%

21%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

im-media-

tely

1-3 m. 4-6 m. 7-9 m. 10-12m.

+12 m. other

Question: How long did it take you to find the child care center?


52%

7%

0%4%

0% 0%

37%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

im-media-

tely

1-3 m. 4-6 m. 7-9 m. 10-12m.

+12m.

other

Over 50% of Polish parents find a place in a child care center immediately.

N=20 N=27N=24

All parents

in months

The difference between Canada and Poland and between Switzerland and Poland are significant.

49

3.8

1

2

3

4

5

4.0

1

2

3

4

5

Question: How satisfied are you with your childcare arrangements?


4.4

1

2

3

4

5

Polish parents are most satisfied with their childcare arrangements.

N=20 N=24N=21


Scale: 1-very dissatisfied, 2-dissatisfied, 3-rather dissatisfied, 4-satisfied, 5-very satisfied.

The difference between Canada and Poland is significant.

very dissatisfied

satisfied

very satisfied

50


Canadian and Swiss parents are not satisfied with their pre-school arrangements. Polish and Swiss parents complain about the insufficient personal time.


suff. personal time

suff. pers. space

time for career

financial security

suff. pre-school offered

confidence in childcare personal

child‘s adaptation to care/school

support by partner in crisis sit.

partner‘s pres. In everyday life

contact with parents/ networking

help offered by ext. family

significant differences*Question: What factors add to your satisfaction as a parent?

3.5

3.7

4.8

5.3

4.7

4.1

3.3

3.6

3.9

3.9

3.9

1 2 3 4 5 6very dis- rather rather satis- very dis- satisf. dis- satis- fied satis-satis- satisf. fied fiedfied

4.9

4.2

4.1

5.0

5.4

4.5

4.4

3.7

3.7

3.0

5.0


4.5

4.0

4.2

4.6

4.7

5.0

3.2

4.0

3.3

3.7

3.0


*

* *

*

*****

** *

* **

* *

51

women men

Mothers in all three countries complain equally about the lack of personal time and time for career, while fathers are, in average, satisfied with both. These gender differences are significant.


suff. personal time

suff. pers. space

time for career

financial security

suff. amount of pre-school offered

confidence in childcare personal

child‘s adaptation to care/school

support by partner in crisis sit.

partner‘s presence in everyday life

contact with parents/ networking

help offered by ext. family

significant differences*Question: What factors add to your satisfaction as a parent?

4.4

4.0

4.5

5.5

5.3

4.9

4.1

4.2

4.6

4.2

4.0


4.4

4.0

4.3

4.7

4.6

4.9

3.5

4.0

3.2

3.6

2.9


*

*

How family friendly are the workplaces?

How family friendly are the workplaces?

Summary

The most family friendly workplaces are in Warsaw. Toronto is least tolerant in terms of child‘s presence at workplace or being a reason for leaving earlier. Women who participate n available work-family programmes (job-sharing, part-time) are viewed least seriously about their career in Toronto. In all three locations, parents think that, in their workplaces, men who participate in such programmes are viewed as not serious about their career. 60% of Canadians and 49% of Swiss parents think that in their workplaces employees are resentful when men take extended leaves to care for their children. Only 21% of working parents in Poland share this opinion.

54


Most family friendly workplaces are in Warsaw…



Question: Is it acceptable at your workplace that due to problems with childcare arrangements one can…

2.4

2.7

3.9

4.1

1 2 3 4 5 6

bring children towork, among

your managers

bring children towork, among

your coleagues

leaveearlier/arrivelater, among

your managers

leaveearlier/arrivelater, among

your colleagues

very unac- rather rather accep- very an- cept- unac- accep- table accep-acceptable ceptable table table able

3.4

3.2

4.0

3.9

1 2 3 4 5 6very unac- rather rather accep- very an- cept- unac- accep- table accep-acceptable ceptable table table able

4.0

4.4

4.5

4.8

1 2 3 4 5 6very unac- rather rather accep- very an- cept- unac- accep- table accep-acceptable ceptable table table able

* *

**

* *

* *

55

Toronto is least tolerant in terms of child‘s presence at workplace and in terms of being a reason for leaving earlier.

2.3

2

2.2

2.7

3.5

2.5

1 2 3 4 5 6

managers favour workers who put jobs ahead of

families

to get ahead employeeswork extra hours

women in family programsare not serious

men in family programsare not serious

workers disapprove of women taking care-related

leaves

workers disapprove of mentaking care-related leaves

2.7

2.3

3

2.4

3.9

3.1

1 2 3 4 5 6


strongly agree

agree

rather agree

rather disagree

disagree

strongly disagree

3

2.1

3.1

2.7

4

4.1

1 2 3 4 5 6strongly agree

agree

rather agree

rather disagree

disagree

strongly disagree

strongly agree

agree

rather agree

rather disagree

disagree

strongly disagree


Understanding the value of care/household

Understanding of the value of childcare/ householdSummary

In all three locations, significanly more women than men identify childcare and household work with the characterisitics of such jobs as 1) waitress, 2) nanny, 3) teacher, 4) medical doctor, and 5) manager. All mothers, to a different degree, tend to identify childcare and household work with such jobs as waitress and nanny as well as a manager. The majority of mothers in Toronto and Warsaw believe that this work is comparable to that of a teacher, whereas mothers in Warsaw see it more as a job of a medical doctor. 60% of Swiss mothers believe that only a managerial salary covers the efforts of childcare and household, whereas the majority of Canadian mothers have difficulties in answering the question. Substantial number of Polish mothers place this work at the level of an average plus salary.

58

Which of the following jobs does the childcare/housework come the closest to…


33%

67%

yes

no

Question: Waitress Women only

25%

75%

yes

no

22%

78%

yes

no

Gender differences:

35%

65%

male yes

female yes

59



83%

17%

yes

no

Question: Nanny Women only

80%

20%

yes

no61%

39%

yes

no

Gender differences:26%

74%

male yes

female yes

60



83%

17%

yes

no

Question: TeacherWomen only

75%

25%

yes

no

83%

17%

yes

no

26%

74%

male yes

female yes

Gender differences:

61


35%

65%

26%

74%

male yes

female yes

26%

74%

Waitress Nanny

Teacher22%

78%

32%

68%

Medical Doctor

Manager

Question: Across jobs and gender differences

62



50%50%yes

no

Question: Medical DoctorWomen only

50%50%yes

no

67%

33%

yes

no

Gender differences:22%

78%

male yes

female yes

63



67%

33%

yes

no

Question: ManagerWomen only

75%

25%

yes

no

72%

28%

yes

no

Gender differences:

32%

68%

male yes

female yes

64

60% of Swiss mothers believe that only a managerial salary covers the efforts of childcare and household, whereas the majority of Canadian mothers have difficulties in answering the question.

Question: What type of salary would be fair to cover the efforts of childcare and housework?Women only

notmeasurable

up to 2000 up to 4000 managerialsalary

other/ don'tknow

16.75.6

33.416.7

27.8

155

20

0

60

8.316.7 16.6

41.6

8.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Toronto

Zurich

Warsaw

the politics of parenting and its impact on women‘s employment case studies in toronto, zurich and...

Documents

value of parenting

value of shared parenting

impact of parenting

half breadwinner model

limited availability

politics of parenting

breadwinnercaregiver

form of care