The allocation of time by female managers on housework, leisure, and sleep in Japan

• In Event: 40820 - Section on Sociology of Sex and Gender Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 16: Fraught Intimacies and Leisure

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the Japanese government has promoted the advancement of women in the workplace. However, while these so-called “womenomics” policies have focused on revitalizing Japan’s economy, its work culture of long working hours and a gendered division of household labor have seen little improvement in this period. In fact, promoting women to leadership positions may, ironically, even further constrain their daily lives. Indeed, the descriptive results of this study, drawing on data from the 2017 Japanese Panel Study of Employment Dynamics, suggest that women in managerial positions spend more time on housework and less time on leisure and sleep than women in non-managerial positions or men in any position do. The results of regression also suggest that, while male managers do less housework and spend more time on leisure and sleep than male non-managers, not only do female managers spend more time on housework than female non-managers, but also the leisure and sleep benefits of being a manager do not apply to them. Unless the male-centered work environment and women’s heavy family responsibilities are critically addressed, the promotion of women to managerial positions could exacerbate the time pressure on women and have negative physical and mental consequences for them.

Author

• Makiko Fuwa, Tokyo Metropolitan University