Exploring the Gendered Impact of Stage in Parenthood on Network Characteristics

• In Event: 50261 - Family Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 4: Gender, Work & Family

Abstract

This study examines how gender and stage in the transition into parenthood interact to shape social networks, using data from the 2004 General Social Survey. With the increasing encouragement of female employment and the economic necessity of dual incomes, an update to previous research, which predominantly highlights the restrictive effects of parenthood on women’s networks, is essential. By categorizing individuals as nonparents, parents with preschoolers, and parents with older children, current study investigates whether different stages of parenthood restructure social networks differently for men and women. Specifically, do parents with children older than five resemble childless individuals in their network characteristics, or does the impact of parenthood persist, albeit to a lesser degree? Findings reveal that mothers with preschoolers exhibit the greatest contact volume among all groups, while fathers with preschoolers report a higher proportion of female ties compared to childless men. These results highlight the importance of considering cultural shifts when examining changes in family and work-related social ties, particularly as contemporary parenthood ideology increasingly emphasizes a more equitable division of responsibilities. Furthermore, this study underscores the need to systematically examine different stages of parenthood to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how social networks change and evolve as individuals transition into and adapt to new parental roles.

Author

• Ziding Shen, University of Georgia