Effect of Parental Leave on the Division of Housework in Japan

• In Event: 50261 - Family Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 7: Family Care Policy

Abstract

Drawing on data from the Japanese Life Course Panel Surveys, this study examines the impact of parental leave on the division of housework in Japan. In recent decades, the Japanese government has implemented various policies to encourage work-life balance, particularly gender-neutral parental leave policies. However, the parental leave policies of firms remain gendered, with a low proportion of male Japanese workers taking parental leave. This study investigates the effect of taking parental leave on married women’s household labor burden through an analysis of Japanese panel data. The results indicate that, even after controlling for the effects of income and working hours, the share of wives' housework increases after taking parental leave compared to before. Thus, even when controlling for other socioeconomic characteristics, taking parental leave increases wives' household labor. However, the husband's parental leave did not affect the wife’s share of housework. These results suggest that women’s parental leave experiences have a long-term impact on their household responsibilities. Even if only parental leave policies are developed, women’s burden of housework will not decrease without altering the gendered application of firms’ parental leave policies and male-centric work practices.

Author

• Manami Yanagida, Tokyo Metropolitan University