Gender pay gap linked to unpaid chores in childhood

Published by  News archive

On 22nd Jul 2022

An Indian woman uses a washing machine.
Getty images

Young women and girls' time spent in unpaid household work contributes to the gender pay gap, according to new research from the Universities of East Anglia (UEA), Birmingham and Brunel. 

The research shows women’s later employment participation is affected by taking on the weight of this care burden in childhood, thus adding to existing inequality gaps in the study countries. 

The study, ‘The contribution of girls’ longer hours in unpaid work to gender gaps in early adult employment: Evidence from Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam’, is published today in the journal Feminist Economics.  

The research team examined data from the Young Lives project, a longitudinal cohort study of childhood poverty following the lives of 12,000 children from India, Ethiopia, Peru and Vietnam. The India sample data is from the states Andhra Pradesh and Telengana. 

Following the lives of children from the age of 8 to 22, the research team analysed employment participation in any paid work and any sector (including agriculture), type of employment and wages.  

According to UNICEF, girls spend 40 per cent more time on household chores than boys. Unequal shares of household care work are highly consequential for girls and linked to wider inequalities such as access to piped water, which shapes the amount of necessary work. 

The amount and nature of household work influences girls’ school participation, reduces their time for study and can thus constrain their future employment opportunities.  

Policy to address gender inequality in paid work needs to take into account unpaid work in childhood, said Dr Nicholas Vasilakos, of UEA. Investing in youth employment is central to development agendas and would help countries meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal of decent work for all by 2030.   

Dr Vasilakos, Associate Professor of Sustainable Business Economics and Public Policy at UEA’s Norwich Business School, said: “Unequal participation in household work starts at a young age, widening differences over time suggest gendered trajectories.” 

Prof Fiona Carmichael, Professor of Labour Economics at Birmingham Business School, said: “Longer hours of unpaid household work that reduces girls’ time for study may therefore limit their future lives by constraining employment opportunities. 

“This confirms that the care burden to women of their greater share of household work starts back in childhood.” 

At age 22, there was already a gender gap in employment participation (85.72 per cent of men versus 70.64 per cent of women). Moreover, women’s hourly wage of US$1.46/hour is significantly less (p=0.001) than men’s US$1.77/hour.   

Household work is negatively related to job quality – both type of jobs and earnings – said Dr Christian Darko, a Lecturer in Applied Business and Labour Economics at the University of Birmingham.  

Prof Shireen Kanji, Professor of Human Resource Management at Brunel University London, said: “It seems that in comparison to men, women’s employment is likely to be driven to a greater extent by lack of choice or by need, and is characterised by fewer opportunities for well-paid, higher-quality employment.”  

However, the study did find that girls whose parents have higher aspirations for them at age 12 have better chances of higher-paid employment at age 22. 

‘The contribution of girls’ longer hours in unpaid work to gender gaps in early adult employment: Evidence from Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam’, is published in the journal Feminist Economics on 22 July 2022. DOI 10.1080/13545701.2022.2084559  

Latest News

 
A disabled child watches a video on a phone with an adult.
24 Mar 2023

More support needed for children with disabilities using the Internet

Children with disabilities need better support to manage their online lives and potential online risks, finds UEA researcher.

Read more >
 
A medical professional administering a Covid-19 vaccine.
23 Mar 2023

Vaccination halves risk of long Covid, largest study to date shows

Read more >
 
Sea defences on the coast of Ghana.
23 Mar 2023

Measuring impacts of climate change on heritage to be explored at conference

A major conference on coastal heritage loss due to climate change is taking place at the University of East Anglia next week.

Read more >
 
An injured man on the beach.
23 Mar 2023

Scientists warn of rise in potentially fatal bacterial infection due to global warming

Continued warming of the climate would see a rise in the number and spread of potentially fatal infections caused by bacteria found along parts of the coast of...

Read more >
Are you searching for something?
 
An injured man on the beach.
23 Mar 2023

Scientists warn of rise in potentially fatal bacterial infection due to global warming

Continued warming of the climate would see a rise in the number and spread of potentially fatal infections caused by bacteria found along parts of the coast of...

Read more >
 
A hand holding up a lightbulb with a graduation cap on, green background
22 Mar 2023

Success for UEA in QS World University Rankings

UEA has ranked in the top tier of universities worldwide in a number of areas in the QS World University Rankings By Subject 2023, released Wednesday 22 March,...

Read more >
 
Spring Street Market L-R: floral prints, crafter birds, The Street with visitors, fruit and vegetables, jewellery stall
17 Mar 2023

Student and graduate businesses given chance to shine on campus at Spring Street Market

Held on Wednesday 15 March, the inaugural Spring Street Market was a bustling success for the University of East Anglia (UEA), with a high turnout of both stall...

Read more >
 
A trans man in a business meeting.
17 Mar 2023

Study highlights challenges facing transgender and non-binary workers

New research led by the University of East Anglia highlights some of the challenges that transgender and non-binary staff can face at work.

Read more >
 
Photo L-R: (Thara Jose, Fergus Cutting, Josh Dixon, Elana Fraser) smiling at the Cyber 9/12 competition in London
16 Mar 2023

UEAnonymous at Cyber Strategy competition finals

UEAnonymous, a talented team of CMP students, made it to the finals of the Cyber 9/12 Strategy competition – one of just 17 teams selected of more than 120...

Read more >
 
A woman sleeping.
14 Mar 2023

UEA Sleep Lab open day this Friday

Researchers at the University of East Anglia will be throwing open the doors of their Sleep and Brain Research Unit to celebrate World Sleep Day this Friday,...

Read more >
 
13 Mar 2023

Creating an accessible communication space for all - new training for staff

Staff can take part in new training aimed at creating an accessible communication space for all, spearheaded by Lauren Flannery, Speech & Language Therapist &...

Read more >