The Polish family in transition: a shift towards greater gender equality?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article aims at tracking patterns of both change and consistency with regard to women’s roles in Poland, with particular focus on family roles. This paper considers whether women’s disproportionate domestic labour and childcare constitutes the so-called double burden or a successful example of work–family balance. In addressing this question, the paper considers survey evidence concerning the gap between preferred and implemented models for the division of domestic labour and childcare. Is there a strong expectation of a gendered domestic division of labour in contemporary Poland? What do women in Poland think about this? Following Ulrich Beck’s individualisation theory (2002), as well as Hakim’s preference theory (2006), this paper provides a secondary analysis of gender roles in terms of both paid work and unpaid work. In contemporary society, ‘doing family’ leads to changes in the internal structure of family. In the Polish context, however, it is unclear whether this signals a transition to full gender equality or, rather, perpetuates inequality.