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Economist highlights benefits of transitioning gender roles in marriages
According to the study's findings, sharing household chores could lead to income gains and increase participation of women in the labor force.
Ashish Sedai / Image- uta.edu
A study led by Indian-orgin economist Ashish Sedai from the University of Texas at Arlington, sheds light on the transformative potential of challenging traditional gender roles within marriages.
According to the study's findings, sharing household chores could lead to income gains and increase participation of women in the labor force.
The research, conducted in Kanpur, India, involving 900 couples, also focused on the impact of relationship counseling and community-based activities on women's socioeconomic status within patriarchal societies.
Dividing participants into three groups, the research provided counseling sessions covering topics such as gender equality and discrimination. Additionally, one group engaged in trust-building activities, while the control group received no interventions.
The findings were significant: women who participated in counseling and activities increased their employment time by an average of 43 minutes per day. This increase was largely attributed to a rise in small-scale self-employment opportunities.
Moreover, men's involvement in household chores also saw a notable increase. Those who underwent counseling and participated in activities augmented their contribution by nearly 36 minutes daily, while those who solely received counseling increased their involvement by 24 minutes.
Sedai emphasized the importance of shared responsibilities within households, noting that the imbalance often impedes one partner's ability to seek employment. By redistributing chores, economic empowerment for women within patriarchal structures becomes attainable.
Beyond the economic benefits, the study also highlighted improvements in couples' relationships, with reduced instances of domestic violence observed among those who participated in the interventions.
While the research was conducted in India, Sedai believes its findings hold universal relevance. By promoting respect and communication within couples, the study offers a pathway towards enhanced socioeconomic opportunities for women in patriarchal societies worldwide.
"Couples spending quality time together could enhance trust, cooperation, respect, and ultimately bolster women's labor force participation in patriarchal contexts," Sedai concluded.
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