Childcare locks women into lower-paid jobs

[Bozita]

Source: The Guardian, UK

Childcare locks women into lower-paid jobs


· Europe-wide study reveals entrenched lifestyle divide
· Domestic duties prevent females pursuing top jobs

Lucy Ward, social affairs correspondent
Thursday December 6, 2007
The Guardian

British women are working in lower paid and lower status jobs than their male counterparts because they still shoulder the responsibility for housework and childcare, a Cambridge University study reveals today.

A "lifestyle divide", in which women take on the burden of domestic duties, creates a vicious circle as they are then less able to work the long hours needed to win top jobs. They then earn less and are reinforced as responsible for household tasks, says the Europe-wide research.

The divide also leaves women with a longer working day, despite earning less, according to the study. The average working week for a woman in Europe is 68 hours, including paid and domestic work - longer than the average of 55 hours for a man in full-time employment.

The study, the first of its kind since EU members joined from the former eastern bloc, suggests efforts to reduce the workplace gender gap in the UK and the rest of Europe have made little progress since the early 1990s. It reinforces the warnings of several British studies that part-time working, now more accessible in the UK thanks to a right to ask to work flexibly, can lock women into low-paid jobs.

-snip-

Only if the lifestyle divide changes, say researchers, will women have equal opportunities in the world of work. "The working lifestyles of most people in Europe still seem to be determined by gender," said the report's lead author, Brendan Burchell. "In many cases, we were struck by how little the results for the longer-standing EU nations like Britain, Germany and France have changed since 1991." The best way to break the circle would be to "reduce gender inequality in employment and the household together", he said. Encouraging men to take their parental leave entitl

-snip-

Read more: http://education.guardian.co.uk/gendergap/story/0,,2222774,00.html

[silverweb]

1. Duh.

Been there, done that.

Twice.

The kids were more than 10 years apart in age.

Not much was different.

[Triana]

2. It's even worse in the US, no doubt (n/t)

[Lance_Boyle]

6. That final line gives a sliver of insight as to why:

"Encouraging men to take their parental leave entitlements would be a step towards this goal."

Not so much of that parental leave entitlement going on here in the states.

[Mend]

3. Women are having fewer children, sometimes none...probably the only answer. Most

men aren't going to do the domestic role for years on end. The companies won't have on-site day care, some husbands will divorce the family in the middle of things, leaving women economically disadvantaged and with an even greater struggle to survive with their kids. Having a very small family is going to be what most women will have to do to minimize the impact.

[Ellen Forradalom]

7. That was my answer

I have one beautiful child. I think that's the right number for me, considering I not only need to work, I want to work; I want to be able to be independent no matter what, and do what I got my degree in.

[AnneD]

10. The smartest advice my Mom ever gave me....

Never have more children than you can afford to raise on your own. I took it to heart and I tell my daughter the same thing.

[boricua79]

4. as long as women put up with it...

I do the dishes and other homework and I wouldn't dream of asking my girlfriend to do it for me, unless I was in a major hurry and I asked for a favor. Some men expect this treatment.

Women...start using that evolutionary power to decide who you mate with and start rejecting parasitical men that refuse to share house duties.

The problem will continue as long as there are men who are parasitical and women who allow it. It almost seems like a majority of my female friends claim they want the nice, hard-working, supportive husband, but then really pick the bad boy parasite in practice. That such men exists is a fact of life. What puzzles me is why women continue to fall again and again for the same men...and then complain about their much harder life at home. I'm personally not having children until my income and life stability allows me comfort in doing so and until I have a partner who understands and shares in the house duties and rearing. If those conditions are not met, I do not have children. Am I supposed to sympathize with women who had children on their own and now have difficulties? Am I supposed to sympathize with women who procreated with parasitical men? I'm not on the side of the parasatical men, but I'm not going to shed tears for women who continue to choose to open their legs for these men. (pardon the graphic description).

Then again, if you believe in the Seduction literature out there (books like "The Game" or anything Mystery (from VH1s Pickup Artist show), you'd believe that women are biologically hot-wired to fall for these men.)

[silverweb]

5. How true!

"The problem will continue as long as there are men who are parasitical and women who allow it."

Every man I've ever met/dated, without exception, wanted me to be his housekeeper/nurse/nanny in addition to sex partner.

Part of the fault is mine, it's true, because I gave off the "caring mom" vibe, but it's still nauseating to contemplate.

Now well past my fertile years, living alone and loving it, I'm able to see the predatory, parasitical nature of seduction.

[JBoy]

8. Very good post.

The corollary is true as well -

No sympathy for a guy who marries a high-maintenance hot chick and then complains about how much she spends.

[boricua79]

9. hear, hear!

I haven't bought a single drink for a woman in my damned life (as a form of pickup move), and I intend to keep the record. Men who fawn over women in the forms of incessant gifts are just so pathetic, it's disgusting.

1) I don't think women respect men who are that way, and if the women stick around, is because they're getting some other benefit.

2) A hot chick is easy to be with, as long as you understand that she KNOWS she's hot, she's been told that all her life, and has come to expect men to grovel at her feet. The easiest way to disarm a hot chick and touch her inside fears and desires is to not be impressed with her looks at all. ALthough it seems a platitude, being yourself and treating her with the same niceness and disdain/sarcasm you treat everyone else will work wonders. It will be so out of the ordinary for her to have found a guy who doesn't knee-jerk worship her, that it's more likely to keep her interested. Not to mention that you drew a line regarding what you will take from her early on, and she won't try any of her spoiled tricks. Also, be very confident, content, and happy with yourself...becuase a hot chick will be hit on a lot and she will have plenty of opportunities to get "something better". If you're into playing that Russian Roulette game, go ahead. Personally, I don't want to have to be living under the constant pressure that if I don't do "xyz" thing, she's gonna cheat with a better prospect out there. Thankfully, my present girlfriend is absolutely heads over heels over me for just being the way I am. What man could ask for anything better?