Gender Differences in the Mechanism of the Impact of Employee Family Sacrifice Behavior on Partner’s Career Aspirations

The literature lacks clarity about the influence of family sacrifice behavior, which is considered a pro-family activity, on the career aspirations of partners. The study employed interdependence theory and gender role theory to examine a sample of 248 double-working couples in China. The hypotheses were tested using a three-wave survey administered to both parties. The main aim is to investigate the gender differences in how employee family sacrifice behavior affects their partner’s career aspirations. Furthermore, the study investigates the moderating role of gender egalitarianism. Research findings suggest that when husbands engage in sacrificial behavior for their families, it has a notable detrimental effect on their own career aspirations. Individual family sacrifice behavior promotes an increase in the partner’s family-work enrichment, thereby enhancing the partner’s career aspirations. This mediating mechanism is conditional and displays differences in gender. When husbands engage in family sacrifice behavior, the mediating mechanism holds true regardless of their wives’ level of gender egalitarianism. However, when wives engage in family sacrifice behavior, the mediating mechanism only holds true when their husbands have a high level of gender egalitarianism. The research findings have profound theoretical implications and practical insights for improving employees’ career aspirations and advancing gender egalitarianism.