Social Network and Gender Division of Housework in Transnational Marriage Couples in Korea

• In Event: 30814 - Gender Dynamics of Immigration

Abstract

Much research has examined how transnational married couples (i.e., couples with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds) divide housework, given their divergent orientations toward gender roles and the unequal distribution of resources that underpin bargaining power. In these relationships, foreign spouses typically have fewer resources and a weaker bargaining position compared to their native partners, prompting researchers to explore the role of social networks in providing information and advice that can enhance bargaining power. While prior studies have primarily conceptualized social networks as sources of social capital that increase bargaining power, we extend this view by arguing that social support networks among individuals from the country of origin may also reinforce traditional gender norms.
Analyzing data from the 2021 Multicultural Family Survey in South Korea, our study reveals two key findings. First, among foreign women, a broader social support network—including ties with both Koreans and individuals from their home countries—is associated with a reduced share of housework, consistent with the notion that these networks enhance bargaining power relative to their Korean husbands. Second, among foreign men, the effect of social support networks from their country of origin varies by the gender equality context of that country. Specifically, foreign men from countries with pronounced gender discrimination tend to perform fewer household tasks as their networks widen, whereas those from more gender-egalitarian countries show increased participation in housework.
These results suggest that social networks play a dual role: they can either bolster bargaining power or reinforce conventional cultural norms. In this framework, individuals with less social power (e.g., foreign women) are more likely to leverage social networks to expand their relational resources, while those with greater social power (e.g., foreign men) may be more inclined to maintain traditional domestic roles.

Authors

• Yoo-Jean Song, Dong-A University

• Yun-Suk Lee