Gendered divisions of labour and the formation of fertility intentions

Zsolt Speder, Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO)

The research aims to unfold the relation between gender division of labour and fertility behaviour in a European comparative perspective. The comparative study includes Western and Eastern countries from Europe, representing different welfare regimes; Austrian, Georgian, French, Hungarian, Norwegian and Russian GGS data from the first wave will be compared. The fundamental hypothesis assumes that the nature of gender division of labour in partnerships influences fertility behaviour. Fertility behaviour is measured by short-term (within three years) fertility intentions. Gendered division of labour will be measured by two indicators. On the one side, the employment profiles of the partnership (male breadwinner vs. dual earner partnerships) measures the gendered division of labour outside the household, namely the labour market and welfare system related division of labour. The division of labour at home, the housework division on the other side, will be measured by a scale based on the items directly measured by the GGS. Logistic regression will be employed in order to identify if and what kind of division of labour influences the formation of fertility intentions. The two basic demographic factors, closely related to fertility behaviour, age and parity, will be controlled. Results points to the directions, that division of labour have an influence among woman and within a context of more unequal division of labour.