Inter-generational co-residence and women's work and leisure time in Egypt

Nadia Diamond-Smith, Omaima El Gibaly and David Bishai ()
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Nadia Diamond-Smith: University of California, San Francisco
Omaima El Gibaly: Assiut University

Demographic Research, 2015, vol. 33, issue 31, 909-938

Abstract: Background: Labor force participation among women in Egypt remains low, and due to falling fertility and increases life expectancy, women in Egypt in the future may spend more time co-residing with aging in-laws. Past literature has suggested that co-residence in some settings allows women to enter the labor force more, as mother-in-laws help care for their grandchildren, or inhibits labor force participation when mother-in-laws reinforce traditional values. There is little research on co-residence and labor supply, or leisure time, in Egypt. Objective: This paper examines the role of intergenerational co-residence in women's work, work time, and leisure time using data on time allocation in Egypt. Methods: Data were collected from 548 women with a living mother-in-law: 291 co-residing their mother-in-law and 257 not. Survey data included work status, a 24-hour time diary, and a health assessment of the mother-in-law. Multivariate regression models predicted work, work time, and leisure time use using standard models. Results: Co-residing with a disabled mother-in-law was associated with decreased odds of women working and fewer minutes spent working a day. Leisure time was not associated with the co-residence and disability status of a mother-in-law. Factors related to couples’ relationships and the woman’s views on gender norms were also associated with women working. Conclusions: Co-residence appears to be associated with women’s work, depending on the disability status of the co-residing mother-in-law. If increased life expectancy is associated with more time spent in a disabled state for mothers-in-law, this could put downward pressure on women’s work in this setting.

Keywords: female labor force participation; coresidence; Egypt; Middle East; North Africa; time use; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:demres:v:33:y:2015:i:31

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2015.33.31

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