Article

 

Women and Men, Moms and Dads: Leveraging Social Role Change to Promote Gender Equality Public Deposited

https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/articles/ft848r703
Abstract
  • This chapter examines gender inequalities in work and family outcomes through the lens of identity construction with a focus on the power of the social context in driving identity conflict. Cultural scripts dictate normative expectations around how to fulfill the roles of mother, father, and worker. The content of the scripts generates greater identity conflict for women than men as they strive to succeed in both roles. This conflict is driven in part by a tighter connection between the role mom and the category women than between dad and the category men, and in part by greater overlap in the roles of dad and professional than mom and professional. Moreover, mothers as a category are viewed as higher in essentialism than fathers. These perceptions affect both perceivers’ judgments of how the genders ought to fulfill these roles, and the self-perceptions of young women and men, such that when women anticipate greater role conflict, they engage in identity shifting on an implicit self-association task, whereas men demonstrate identity stability. Women also intend to make greater accommodations to work hours due to children. Changing the content of these social roles through strengthening the tie between dads and men, promoting less gendered division of caretaking responsibilities, and changing normative scripts for young professionals are discussed as pathways for promoting greater gender equality in both work and family outcomes.

Creator
Date Issued
  • 2019
Academic Affiliation
Journal Title
Journal Volume
  • 59
Last Modified
  • 2020-11-11
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