Attitudes toward work and parenthood following family-building transitions in Sweden: Identifying differences by gender and education

Eva Bernhardt, Malgorzata Switek and Frances Goldscheider
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Eva Bernhardt: Stockholms Universitet
Malgorzata Switek: Milken Institute
Frances Goldscheider: Brown University

Demographic Research, 2023, vol. 49, issue 30, 783-808

Abstract: Objective: This paper examines how family-building transitions (union formation and first birth) affect the attitudes of Swedes toward work and parenthood. The literature finds that these life course transitions have a traditionalizing effect on gender roles. Is this also the case in Sweden, one of the most gender-equal countries in the world? Methods: Our study uses the longitudinal Young Adult Panel Study database. We run first-difference OLS regressions on the relationship between family-building transitions and work and parenthood attitudes, distinguishing men from women, and those with more education from those with less. Results: We find that family transitions do slightly traditionalize attitudes toward work and parenthood, but differences by gender and education are very small. Contribution: The overall pattern is one of striking similarity between men and women, suggesting that the gender revolution is well advanced in Sweden; traditional gender differences remain primarily among those with less education.

Keywords: gender equality; educational inequality; family-building transitions; parenthood attitudes; work attitudes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:demres:v:49:y:2023:i:30

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2023.49.30

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