Projects

Project Seven: Class and Gender, Employment and Family

Principal Investigator: Rosemary Crompton (City University, London)
Researcher: Clare Lyonette (City University, London)

Aims
Aims and objectives include: (1) to explore the conflicts of family and career by carrying out case studies of four feminised, or feminising, sectors and professions (retail, banking, accountancy, medicine); (2) to investigate gender and class differences through work-life biographical interviews with men and women in these occupations and professions ; (3) to repeat, together with additional questions derived from the case study work, a national survey relating to gender, family, employment and career; (4) to analyse gender and cohort differences using a newly extended time series data set on attitudes to gender roles based on surveys from 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006.

This project will explore how changes in the gender division of labour within both employment and the family (re)structure gender and class inequalities. The class 'fates' of men and women in the same occupational category have been different as a consequence of both women's conventionally assigned responsibilities for caring work as well as institutional and organisational discriminatory structures. Recent evidence suggests that, despite policies to promote work-life balance, work has intensified, with no relaxation of long hours needed for career building. Moreover, capacity to achieve work-life balance has a significant class dimension (Taylor 2001). Changes in employment behaviour are taking place within a context in which there are rapid developments in normative assumptions relating to men's and women's roles (Crompton 2002). In this project, we combine a qualitative exploration of normative change and development in particular organisational and professional contexts, with quantitative data analysing patterns, by class, age and sex, of normative expectations and associated behaviours relating to gender roles.

There are two key research questions for the case studies and qualitative interviews: How have a range of employment sectors and professions adapted to women's entry in respect of (a) career development and (b) work-life integration? How do class differences affect possibilities of achieving work-life balance, and what are the consequences for gender equality? The quantitative study has two key goals: To track changes in gender norms and attitudes from 1994 and to establish how these vary by age, sex and class. To explore the linkages between the employment context, career aspirations, and attitudes to work-life balance for men and women between 2002-6 and to establish whether work-life balance is considered differently from the perspective of different sexes.

Qualitative
The case studies focus on occupational sectors and professions that are feminised or feminising (retail, finance, medicine and accountancy) ensuring a good mix of occupational class. Previous research has demonstrated that women managers, in particular, find difficulties in combining employment and family life (Crompton 2001). However, women and men with professional qualifications are enabled to work flexibly whilst retaining a reasonable level of income and without loss of occupational status. The case studies will examine, from a gender perspective, how these occupations and professions have responded and developed with the entry of women. Have these changes reduced or reinforced gender and class inequalities? (e.g. making a career structure more 'open' but requiring greater levels of work intensification, or enhanced qualification levels, to pursue an upwardly mobile career). To what extent have the actions of the employees themselves brought about change? (e.g. GPs acting to reduce hours). The case studies will be complemented by a series of in-depth work-life interviews with ten (matched) male and female parents of young children, in each sector. Attitudes to careers, gender roles, and the practicalities of childcare arrangements will be explored. A categorisation of parenting strategies and individual career development will be developed, and evaluated in the 2006 survey.

Quantitative
The project will develop a time series of attitudinal data drawing upon the British Social Attitudes survey (BSA), which incorporates the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). Repeated surveys of attitudes to gender roles have been carried out in 1994, 1998, and 2002. Building on our research on Employment and Caring (R000239737), we will repeat in 2006, the extended 2002 BSA British survey that contains questions exploring family/career tensions and conflicts. Quasi-cohort analysis, relating age to sex and class will explore changes in twelve years (Park 2000). For work/family arrangements, both attitudes and behaviour are changing rapidly. Perceptions of how family/career clashes are linked to workplace culture should help inform both Government and Corporate policy.

Project Contact
Professor Rosemary Crompton
Department of Sociology
City University
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
r.crompton@city.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7040 8507