Governments, workplaces and households
To what extent do they shape how mothers allocate time to work and family, and what role do prefer
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March 2005
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Abstract
Rather than talking about the role of preferences, it might be more useful to talk about the role of supports, pressures and additional labour in determining how mothers allocate time to work and family. In this article the author examines the skewed allocation of paid and unpaid work within households with working parents. She argues that a mother's preferences are maintained or changed over time in response to a range of supports and pressures.
Governments, workplaces and households: to what extent do they shape how mothers allocate time to work and family, and what role do preferences play?
Rather than talking about the role of preferences, it might be more useful to talk about the role of supports, pressures and additional labour in determining how mothers allocate time to work and family. In this article the author examines the skewed allocation of paid and unpaid work within households with working parents. She argues that a mother's preferences are maintained or changed over time in response to a range of supports and pressures.