This comment aims to clarify trends in the percentage of men in the United States who are childfree (i.e., do not have and do not want children).
Background
Bozick (2023, Journal of Marriage and Family, 85(1), 293–304) used data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) to examine trends in the percentage of men who are childfree during the first two decades of the 2000s, concluding that there was a considerable increase. However, these percentages were computed incorrectly.
Method
Data from the NSFG are reanalyzed, ensuring comparable sample universes by age, correctly applying sampling weights, and including data from 2002.
Results
Following a small decline between 2006 and 2015 (10.7%–12.1%), the percent of men who were childfree between 2015 and 2019 (14.2%–15.7%) returned to the levels observed in 2002 (14.3%).
Conclusions
Bozick's (2023, Journal of Marriage and Family, 85(1), 293–304) original conclusion that the percentage of men who are childfree has grown considerably is inconsistent with these revised analyses.
Implications
Childfree men, and childfree adults in general, are a large and understudied demographic group that warrants greater attention, but researchers should exercise caution when studying trends in childfree prevalence.
本评论旨在澄清美国无子女（即没有孩子也不想要孩子）男性比例的趋势。Bozick （2023, Journal of Marriage and Family, 85(1), 293-304）使用来自全国家庭增长调查（NSFG）的数据，研究了21世纪头20年无子女男性比例的趋势，得出结论，这一比例有相当大的增长。然而，这些百分比计算有误。方法重新分析来自NSFG的数据，确保样本宇宙按年龄进行比较，正确应用抽样权重，并包括2002年的数据。在2006年至2015年（10.7%-12.1%）小幅下降之后，2015年至2019年（14.2%-15.7%）无子女男性的比例恢复到2002年（14.3%）的水平。Bozick （2023, Journal of Marriage and Family, 85(1), 293-304）最初的结论是，没有孩子的男性比例已经大大增加，这与这些修订后的分析不一致。无子女男性，以及一般的无子女成年人，是一个庞大的、研究不足的人口群体，值得更多的关注，但研究人员在研究无子女流行趋势时应谨慎行事。
{"title":"Estimating the percentage of men who are childfree using the National Survey of Family Growth: A comment on Bozick (2023)","authors":"Zachary P. Neal, Jennifer Watling Neal","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13092","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This comment aims to clarify trends in the percentage of men in the United States who are childfree (i.e., do not have and do not want children).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Bozick (2023, <i>Journal of Marriage and Family</i>, <i>85</i>(1), 293–304) used data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) to examine trends in the percentage of men who are childfree during the first two decades of the 2000s, concluding that there was a considerable increase. However, these percentages were computed incorrectly.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Data from the NSFG are reanalyzed, ensuring comparable sample universes by age, correctly applying sampling weights, and including data from 2002.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Following a small decline between 2006 and 2015 (10.7%–12.1%), the percent of men who were childfree between 2015 and 2019 (14.2%–15.7%) returned to the levels observed in 2002 (14.3%).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Bozick's (2023, <i>Journal of Marriage and Family</i>, <i>85</i>(1), 293–304) original conclusion that the percentage of men who are childfree has grown considerably is inconsistent with these revised analyses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Childfree men, and childfree adults in general, are a large and understudied demographic group that warrants greater attention, but researchers should exercise caution when studying trends in childfree prevalence.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1763-1766"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144524941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study compares the sterilization behavior of couples with varying joint education levels and union types.
Background
A couple's joint education levels affect the resources available to them and the power dynamics within the relationship; they also help determine which spouse takes primary responsibility for the couple's fertility work. However, few studies have examined how couples' sterilization behavior differs according to their joint education levels and union type.
Methods
Using data from the 2006–2019 National Survey of Family Growth, this study estimated multinomial logistic regression models to predict the relative risk of relying on female sterilization, male sterilization, or reversible contraception for couples with varying joint education levels and union type.
Results
Married and cohabiting couples with higher joint levels of education were less likely than their lesser-educated counterparts to rely on female sterilization. Married couples with higher joint levels of education were more likely than their lesser-educated counterparts to rely on male sterilization. However, for cohabiting couples, disparities in reliance on male sterilization differed little according to their joint levels of education.
Conclusion
Future studies should consider how male and female partners' education interact to affect their sterilization behavior. When they do, they should consider their relative and absolute levels of education.
{"title":"Educational gap between partners and sterilization","authors":"Kate H. Choi","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13091","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study compares the sterilization behavior of couples with varying joint education levels and union types.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A couple's joint education levels affect the resources available to them and the power dynamics within the relationship; they also help determine which spouse takes primary responsibility for the couple's fertility work. However, few studies have examined how couples' sterilization behavior differs according to their joint education levels and union type.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using data from the 2006–2019 National Survey of Family Growth, this study estimated multinomial logistic regression models to predict the relative risk of relying on female sterilization, male sterilization, or reversible contraception for couples with varying joint education levels and union type.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Married and cohabiting couples with higher joint levels of education were less likely than their lesser-educated counterparts to rely on female sterilization. Married couples with higher joint levels of education were more likely than their lesser-educated counterparts to rely on male sterilization. However, for cohabiting couples, disparities in reliance on male sterilization differed little according to their joint levels of education.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Future studies should consider how male and female partners' education interact to affect their sterilization behavior. When they do, they should consider their relative and absolute levels of education.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1727-1746"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.13091","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144524940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study examines contributors to mate preferences and their changes, as well as behaviors corresponding to mate preferences in Japan, where mate preferences likely play a role in its steady marriage decline.
Background
Mate preferences are believed to guide mate selection processes. However, previous research has not adequately explained how individuals' circumstances contribute to shifts in preferences and how such shifts are linked to partnering behaviors, including partner-seeking actions and marriage formation.
Method
This study employs 11 years of data (N = 8946) from the Japanese Life Course Panel Survey. Random-effects, fixed-effects, and discrete-time proportional hazard models are used to uncover gender disparities in mate preferences, factors associated with changes in these preferences, and links between mate preferences and partnering behaviors.
Results
Women express more preferred characteristics in potential partners and are more likely than men to consider a partner's financial prospects as important. They are also unlikely to compromise on the mate's income with changes in partnering opportunities. Single men's preferences are somewhat more malleable. Moreover, identifying more mate-selection criteria is associated with a more active partner search, especially when individuals are eager to marry, but having many criteria slows the transition to marriage.
Conclusion
Japanese women's high and unwavering mate preferences likely reflect the rigid gender roles and high stakes of marriage they face. The negative relationship between insisting on many, especially gendered, mate preferences and marriage formation suggests that Japan's gender context discourages marriage formation through fostering singles' insistence on certain mate preferences.
{"title":"Mate preferences and marriage-related behaviors: The case of Japan","authors":"Yuko Hara, Wei-hsin Yu","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13088","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines contributors to mate preferences and their changes, as well as behaviors corresponding to mate preferences in Japan, where mate preferences likely play a role in its steady marriage decline.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mate preferences are believed to guide mate selection processes. However, previous research has not adequately explained how individuals' circumstances contribute to shifts in preferences and how such shifts are linked to partnering behaviors, including partner-seeking actions and marriage formation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study employs 11 years of data (<i>N</i> = 8946) from the Japanese Life Course Panel Survey. Random-effects, fixed-effects, and discrete-time proportional hazard models are used to uncover gender disparities in mate preferences, factors associated with changes in these preferences, and links between mate preferences and partnering behaviors.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Women express more preferred characteristics in potential partners and are more likely than men to consider a partner's financial prospects as important. They are also unlikely to compromise on the mate's income with changes in partnering opportunities. Single men's preferences are somewhat more malleable. Moreover, identifying more mate-selection criteria is associated with a more active partner search, especially when individuals are eager to marry, but having many criteria slows the transition to marriage.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Japanese women's high and unwavering mate preferences likely reflect the rigid gender roles and high stakes of marriage they face. The negative relationship between insisting on many, especially gendered, mate preferences and marriage formation suggests that Japan's gender context discourages marriage formation through fostering singles' insistence on certain mate preferences.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1361-1386"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.13088","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144524847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Examine normative expectations of teens and parents related to teen behaviors in multiple domains.
Background
Parenting expectations have strengthened in an increasingly evaluative context. Existing literature does not address whether parents are evaluated based on their teens’ actions. We argue that understanding the pressures parents face is facilitated by an understanding of norms, which regulate behavior, and metanorms, which regulate the sanctioning of norm violations.
Method
Using an online vignette experiment, we tested three hypotheses about norm expectations evaluating a 16-year-old female's behavior and metanorm expectations evaluating her parents based on the teens’ behavior. 786 US adults were randomly assigned to one of eight vignettes varying a teen daughter's behavior with respect to contraception, number of sexual partners, shoplifting, and academic performance.
Results
Participants expected negative reactions to the teen girl when she engaged in nonnormative behaviors. They also expected she was more likely to be pregnant, even when the nonnormative behavior was not sexual. They expected more negative reactions to her parents based on her nonnormative behavior, even when nothing was known about their parenting. In some cases, the effects were smaller for parents than for the girl but still notable.
Conclusion
Parents and teens are both held accountable for teens’ behavior.
Implications
The study extends the theoretical understanding of metanorms and has implications for understanding parental reactions to teens’ behaviors.
{"title":"Yes, parents, it reflects on you: Norms and Metanorms regulating teen daughters and parents","authors":"Monica Kirkpatrick Johnson, Stefanie Mollborn, Christine Horne","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13090","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Examine normative expectations of teens and parents related to teen behaviors in multiple domains.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Parenting expectations have strengthened in an increasingly evaluative context. Existing literature does not address whether parents are evaluated based on their teens’ actions. We argue that understanding the pressures parents face is facilitated by an understanding of norms, which regulate behavior, and metanorms, which regulate the sanctioning of norm violations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using an online vignette experiment, we tested three hypotheses about norm expectations evaluating a 16-year-old female's behavior and metanorm expectations evaluating her parents based on the teens’ behavior. 786 US adults were randomly assigned to one of eight vignettes varying a teen daughter's behavior with respect to contraception, number of sexual partners, shoplifting, and academic performance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants expected negative reactions to the teen girl when she engaged in nonnormative behaviors. They also expected she was more likely to be pregnant, even when the nonnormative behavior was not sexual. They expected more negative reactions to her parents based on her nonnormative behavior, even when nothing was known about their parenting. In some cases, the effects were smaller for parents than for the girl but still notable.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Parents and teens are both held accountable for teens’ behavior.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study extends the theoretical understanding of metanorms and has implications for understanding parental reactions to teens’ behaviors.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1783-1799"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.13090","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144524523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study formulates and tests a resource substitution hypothesis, examining whether mothers rely more on occupational autonomy to balance work and childrearing when paid maternity leave is unavailable.
Background
The tension between working for pay and caring for young children is crucial to understanding women's employment trajectories, especially in the United States, with its limited formal support for mothers around childbirth. In this context, occupational characteristics such as autonomy may serve as an important resource for working women to draw upon during the transition to motherhood.
Method
Using data from the first 19 rounds of the NLSY97 (N = 1813) and the O*NET, the author estimates logistic models and discrete-time event history models to consider the relationship between occupational autonomy, use of paid leave, and whether and when mothers come back to work after childbirth.
Results
The results highlight the nature of autonomy as a valuable resource in the transition back to work and confirm the resource substitution hypothesis. Mothers in occupations with greater autonomy are not only more likely to return to work after childbirth but also do so more promptly, particularly in the absence of paid leave.
Conclusion
These findings are significant, given the enduring impact of post-childbirth career breaks and the limited access to paid leave in the United States. They underscore the potential of occupational autonomy in mitigating the adverse effects of motherhood on career progression and in reducing disparities among mothers across various labor market sectors.
{"title":"Occupational autonomy, paid maternity leave, and mothers' return to work after childbirth","authors":"Camille Portier","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13089","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study formulates and tests a resource substitution hypothesis, examining whether mothers rely more on occupational autonomy to balance work and childrearing when paid maternity leave is unavailable.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The tension between working for pay and caring for young children is crucial to understanding women's employment trajectories, especially in the United States, with its limited formal support for mothers around childbirth. In this context, occupational characteristics such as autonomy may serve as an important resource for working women to draw upon during the transition to motherhood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using data from the first 19 rounds of the NLSY97 (<i>N</i> = 1813) and the O*NET, the author estimates logistic models and discrete-time event history models to consider the relationship between occupational autonomy, use of paid leave, and whether and when mothers come back to work after childbirth.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results highlight the nature of autonomy as a valuable resource in the transition back to work and confirm the resource substitution hypothesis. Mothers in occupations with greater autonomy are not only more likely to return to work after childbirth but also do so more promptly, particularly in the absence of paid leave.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings are significant, given the enduring impact of post-childbirth career breaks and the limited access to paid leave in the United States. They underscore the potential of occupational autonomy in mitigating the adverse effects of motherhood on career progression and in reducing disparities among mothers across various labor market sectors.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1571-1595"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.13089","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144525066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gülbin Şengül-İnal, Nicolai Topstad Borgen, Jan Skopek, Ane Nærde, Henrik Daae Zachrisson
Objective
This study aims to examine the extent to which maternal education-related disparities in child language development in preschool years are mediated by differences in mother–child interaction quality, and whether this mediation varies across different sociopolitical contexts: the U.S., Germany, and Norway.
Background
Socioeconomic disparities in language development have prompted research to investigate mechanisms underlying early language disparities. Moreover, welfare states structure the opportunities available and accessible to all parents and children. Thus, it becomes crucial to understand how family mechanisms differ across different sociopolitical contexts.
Method
The study uses data from the U.S., Germany, and Norway with comparable measures based on ex-post harmonization across early childhood to examine cross-country differences in whether the association between maternal education and language development was explained by the observed quality of mother–child interactions.
Results
Mother–child interactions partly mediate the association between maternal education and language skills, with similar indirect effects in all three countries. Because maternal education is more strongly associated with language skills in the U.S. compared to Germany and Norway, mother–child interactions explain a considerably lower proportion of the total effect in the U.S.
Conclusion
Mother–child interactions play a consistent role in language disparities regardless of sociopolitical context, suggesting that the broader sociopolitical context does not influence these micro-processes. Other factors related to the sociopolitical context seem to cause larger education-related gaps in language skills in the U.S. compared to Germany and Norway.
{"title":"Maternal education, early language skills, and mother–child interactions across three welfare states","authors":"Gülbin Şengül-İnal, Nicolai Topstad Borgen, Jan Skopek, Ane Nærde, Henrik Daae Zachrisson","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13087","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aims to examine the extent to which maternal education-related disparities in child language development in preschool years are mediated by differences in mother–child interaction quality, and whether this mediation varies across different sociopolitical contexts: the U.S., Germany, and Norway.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Socioeconomic disparities in language development have prompted research to investigate mechanisms underlying early language disparities. Moreover, welfare states structure the opportunities available and accessible to all parents and children. Thus, it becomes crucial to understand how family mechanisms differ across different sociopolitical contexts.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study uses data from the U.S., Germany, and Norway with comparable measures based on ex-post harmonization across early childhood to examine cross-country differences in whether the association between maternal education and language development was explained by the observed quality of mother–child interactions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mother–child interactions partly mediate the association between maternal education and language skills, with similar indirect effects in all three countries. Because maternal education is more strongly associated with language skills in the U.S. compared to Germany and Norway, mother–child interactions explain a considerably lower proportion of the total effect in the U.S.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mother–child interactions play a consistent role in language disparities regardless of sociopolitical context, suggesting that the broader sociopolitical context does not influence these micro-processes. Other factors related to the sociopolitical context seem to cause larger education-related gaps in language skills in the U.S. compared to Germany and Norway.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1549-1570"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.13087","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144524775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We aim to examine how the interplay between couples' gender ideology and economic power shapes gender ideology evolution during the transition into parenthood.
Background
Previous research has examined individual-level changes in gender ideology during the transition into parenthood, overlooking the dynamic interaction in which the characteristics of both spouses mutually shape each other's gender ideology.
Method
Analyzing longitudinal couple data from the United Kingdom (1991–2020) using a couple-level fixed effects model, this study examines how women's and men's gender ideologies evolve during the transition into parenthood and whether the patterns are configured by spousal gender ideologies and relative income.
Results
Throughout the transition into parenthood, there is a shift toward more traditional gender-role views among wives. This change is particularly pronounced if their husbands possess more traditional ideologies and earn more than the wives. The impact of parenthood on the husband's gender ideology is more varied. Husbands tend to adopt more traditional ideologies when their wives hold more traditional views and when they earn overwhelmingly high relative incomes. Conversely, their gender ideologies become more egalitarian when their wives hold more egalitarian views and when their incomes are similar to or lower than their wives'.
Conclusion
Our findings provide novel insights into the interactional process of gender ideology formation in different-sex couples when they become parents, highlighting the interplay between parenthood, gender ideology, and economic power. The strong ideological interaction between spouses suggests a significant opportunity for exchanging egalitarian beliefs between genders as society moves toward more gender-equal norms.
{"title":"A longitudinal dyadic analysis of gender ideology during the transition into parenthood","authors":"Yexin Zheng, Senhu Wang, Muzhi Zhou","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13086","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We aim to examine how the interplay between couples' gender ideology and economic power shapes gender ideology evolution during the transition into parenthood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Previous research has examined individual-level changes in gender ideology during the transition into parenthood, overlooking the dynamic interaction in which the characteristics of both spouses mutually shape each other's gender ideology.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Analyzing longitudinal couple data from the United Kingdom (1991–2020) using a couple-level fixed effects model, this study examines how women's and men's gender ideologies evolve during the transition into parenthood and whether the patterns are configured by spousal gender ideologies and relative income.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Throughout the transition into parenthood, there is a shift toward more traditional gender-role views among wives. This change is particularly pronounced if their husbands possess more traditional ideologies and earn more than the wives. The impact of parenthood on the husband's gender ideology is more varied. Husbands tend to adopt more traditional ideologies when their wives hold more traditional views and when they earn overwhelmingly high relative incomes. Conversely, their gender ideologies become more egalitarian when their wives hold more egalitarian views and when their incomes are similar to or lower than their wives'.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings provide novel insights into the interactional process of gender ideology formation in different-sex couples when they become parents, highlighting the interplay between parenthood, gender ideology, and economic power. The strong ideological interaction between spouses suggests a significant opportunity for exchanging egalitarian beliefs between genders as society moves toward more gender-equal norms.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1433-1453"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144525194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study describes the childbearing trajectories and earnings of mothers in female same-sex couples (FSSC) in Norway and, through comparisons with mothers in different-sex couples (DSC), explores three factors behind mothers' earnings losses.
Background
Mothers in FSSC experience smaller earnings penalties following parenthood than mothers in DSC. We investigate three potential reasons for this: the number of pregnancies/births the mother goes through, number of children in the family, and the partner's sex.
Method
The study utilized Norwegian register data, 1999–2021, including 1050 women in FSSC and 168,649 in DSC. An event study was used to estimate labor earnings changes after a first and second child, separately for mothers in DSC and FSSC, and for partners in FSSC who gave birth once, twice, or never, isolating the impact of each factor.
Results
Childbirth/pregnancy was the most important factor. Birth mothers experienced large earnings losses after each pregnancy, with no differences between FSSC and DSC. Likely due to strict regulations, high costs, and low availability of fertility treatments, FSSC had fewer children and (only) 50% switched birth parent for a second child.
Conclusion
(Birth) mothers' larger earnings losses stem primarily from time away from the labor market in connection with each pregnancy/birth. Mothers in FSSC on average go through fewer pregnancies, possibly explaining their overall smaller earnings penalties in the first 5 years of parenthood.
{"title":"Splitting the penalty by taking turns? Same-sex mothers' earnings losses in Norway","authors":"Ylva Moberg, Maaike van der Vleuten","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13081","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study describes the childbearing trajectories and earnings of mothers in female same-sex couples (FSSC) in Norway and, through comparisons with mothers in different-sex couples (DSC), explores three factors behind mothers' earnings losses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mothers in FSSC experience smaller earnings penalties following parenthood than mothers in DSC. We investigate three potential reasons for this: the number of pregnancies/births the mother goes through, number of children in the family, and the partner's sex.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study utilized Norwegian register data, 1999–2021, including 1050 women in FSSC and 168,649 in DSC. An event study was used to estimate labor earnings changes after a first and second child, separately for mothers in DSC and FSSC, and for partners in FSSC who gave birth once, twice, or never, isolating the impact of each factor.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Childbirth/pregnancy was the most important factor. Birth mothers experienced large earnings losses after each pregnancy, with no differences between FSSC and DSC. Likely due to strict regulations, high costs, and low availability of fertility treatments, FSSC had fewer children and (only) 50% switched birth parent for a second child.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>(Birth) mothers' larger earnings losses stem primarily from time away from the labor market in connection with each pregnancy/birth. Mothers in FSSC on average go through fewer pregnancies, possibly explaining their overall smaller earnings penalties in the first 5 years of parenthood.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1524-1548"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.13081","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144525156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This article investigates how education and the presence and age of children shape gendered work schedule arrangements among couples in France and Germany.
Background
Despite the prevalence of nonstandard work schedules, schools and daycare facilities typically operate during standard work hours. Nevertheless, little is known on the gendered division of work schedules. Both France and Germany have shifted toward labor market deregulation, favoring the concentration of nonstandard schedules in lower-class jobs. However, France provides full-day public education and care. In Germany, public childcare is less comprehensive, and daycare and school hours are considerably shorter.
Method
The study uses sequence and cluster analysis on time-use data (N = 11,268 days) to identify typical work schedules. Multinomial logistic regressions assess how education and the presence and age of children are associated with men's and women's types of days.
Results
In both countries, less-educated men were more likely to work shifts, whereas less-educated women were more likely to not be employed. However, standard work schedules prevailed among better-educated French men and women, whereas partial workdays and non-workdays predominated among German women.
Conclusion
In both labor market contexts, less-educated partnered women rather than men seem to opt out of employment due to scheduling conflicts between work and care. However, more work-facilitating family policies allow for more gender-equal schedules among better-educated men and women in France.
{"title":"Who can work when, and why do we have to care? Education, care demands, and the gendered division of work schedules in France and Germany","authors":"Carolin Deuflhard, Jeanne Ganault","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13085","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This article investigates how education and the presence and age of children shape gendered work schedule arrangements among couples in France and Germany.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Despite the prevalence of nonstandard work schedules, schools and daycare facilities typically operate during standard work hours. Nevertheless, little is known on the gendered division of work schedules. Both France and Germany have shifted toward labor market deregulation, favoring the concentration of nonstandard schedules in lower-class jobs. However, France provides full-day public education and care. In Germany, public childcare is less comprehensive, and daycare and school hours are considerably shorter.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study uses sequence and cluster analysis on time-use data (<i>N</i> = 11,268 days) to identify typical work schedules. Multinomial logistic regressions assess how education and the presence and age of children are associated with men's and women's types of days.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In both countries, less-educated men were more likely to work shifts, whereas less-educated women were more likely to not be employed. However, standard work schedules prevailed among better-educated French men <i>and</i> women, whereas partial workdays and non-workdays predominated among German women.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In both labor market contexts, less-educated partnered women rather than men seem to opt out of employment due to scheduling conflicts between work and care. However, more work-facilitating family policies allow for more gender-equal schedules among better-educated men and women in France.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1618-1638"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.13085","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144525157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study assesses the role of retirement as an equalizer for couple's housework production in tandem with changing demands for different types of housework after retirement.
Background
Retirement has received attention as an equalizer for household gender inequality. Among various changes brought by retirement, changing demands for housework can have different implications depending on chore types due to gender task segregation.
Methods
Using the Health and Retirement Study from 976 couples (N = 3,404) and fixed effects models, we predict the difference between husbands’ and wives’ housework time among different-gender married dual-earner couples as a function of retirement arrangements, time spent on feminine- and masculine-typed chores, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and time.
Results
Couple's retirement arrangements were generally not independently associated with housework gender inequality, but they moderated the effects of demands for gender-normative tasks. Consistent with the prediction that feminine-typed chores fall upon wives and masculine-typed chores on husbands, couples were more egalitarian when there was less feminine-typed chore to distribute. More masculine-typed chore contributed to gender equality but only under limited circumstances.
Conclusion
We found some evidence of gender task segregation but limited support for retirement as an equalizer. Even though husbands’ retirement brings an opportunity to improve housework gender equality, the success depends on the level of demands for gender-normative tasks.
Implications
This study highlights how gender ideological scripts can frame relational expectations and persist despite shifts in economic contributions to the household.
{"title":"Gender and housework in the post-retirement context: Longitudinal evidence from the U.S.","authors":"In Jeong Hwang, Joseph Svec, Jeong Eun Lee","doi":"10.1111/jomf.13083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13083","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study assesses the role of retirement as an equalizer for couple's housework production in tandem with changing demands for different types of housework after retirement.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Retirement has received attention as an equalizer for household gender inequality. Among various changes brought by retirement, changing demands for housework can have different implications depending on chore types due to gender task segregation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using the Health and Retirement Study from 976 couples (<i>N</i> = 3,404) and fixed effects models, we predict the difference between husbands’ and wives’ housework time among different-gender married dual-earner couples as a function of retirement arrangements, time spent on feminine- and masculine-typed chores, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and time.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Couple's retirement arrangements were generally not independently associated with housework gender inequality, but they moderated the effects of demands for gender-normative tasks. Consistent with the prediction that feminine-typed chores fall upon wives and masculine-typed chores on husbands, couples were more egalitarian when there was less feminine-typed chore to distribute. More masculine-typed chore contributed to gender equality but only under limited circumstances.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found some evidence of gender task segregation but limited support for retirement as an equalizer. Even though husbands’ retirement brings an opportunity to improve housework gender equality, the success depends on the level of demands for gender-normative tasks.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study highlights how gender ideological scripts can frame relational expectations and persist despite shifts in economic contributions to the household.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48440,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Marriage and Family","volume":"87 4","pages":"1596-1617"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144524828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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