Adult Worker Model Typologies: Examining Work–Family Policies in Fifteen European Countries

Iris Po Yee Lo (), Ruby Chui Man Chau and Sam Wai Kam Yu
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Iris Po Yee Lo: Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Ruby Chui Man Chau: School of Sociology and Social Policy, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Sam Wai Kam Yu: Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: This article aims to advance the discussion of government policies for improving women’s work and family life. It focuses on exploring whether it is reasonable to expect that the supported adult worker model will play an important role in guiding governments to reduce the gender employment gap and, at the same time, increase women’s resources for strengthening their control over family and work life. This model posits that governments should take a proactive approach to encouraging women to take part in formal employment, such as providing care support measures. To examine the impact of the model, this article develops an ‘input adult worker model typology’ and an ‘output adult worker model typology’ using cluster analysis of comparative data covering 15 countries. The findings show that it is important not to overestimate the impact of the supported adult worker model on reducing the gender employment gap or increasing women’s control over their lives in most of the 15 countries. The evidence generated from these typologies highlights the difficulties involved in promoting women’s welfare despite the use of the adult worker model as a substitute for the male-breadwinner model.

Keywords: male-breadwinner model; supported adult worker model; gender gap; labour force participation; care work; work–family policy; welfare; typology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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