Is It Time for a Revolution in Work‒Life Balance? Reflections from Spain

Rocío Rodríguez-Rivero, Susana Yáñez, Celia Fernández-Aller and Ruth Carrasco-Gallego
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Rocío Rodríguez-Rivero: Department of Organization Engineering, Business Administration and Statistics, ETSI Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Susana Yáñez: Department of Organization Engineering, Business Administration and Statistics, ETSI Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Celia Fernández-Aller: Department of IT Systems, ETSI Sistemas Informáticos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28031 Madrid, Spain
Ruth Carrasco-Gallego: Department of Organization Engineering, Business Administration and Statistics, ETSI Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 22, 1-25

Abstract: The COVID-19 crisis has taken the world by surprise, and its effects are widening pre-existing inequalities such as socioeconomical, educational, and digital divides. The gender gap is no exception, and research shows that lockdowns are strongly impacting women, who, on the whole, are more vulnerable to the effects of a crisis. This study analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain on families, from a gender perspective. To this end, 663 participants related to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields were recruited to participate in the research through their connection with the Equality Office of the major technical university of Spain, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, which offers most engineering and architecture degrees. The results indicate that the great myths of gender inequality are still alive in Spain, and that a crisis of this nature can perpetuate them. However, the crisis also presents an opportunity for change. Will the STEM careers be prepared to take advantage of this opportunity, or will this crisis end up perpetuating their markedly masculine character? Are we ready for a revolution? The COVID-19 crisis and its learnings about the importance of care can open the path to change.

Keywords: work‒life balance; COVID-19 pandemic; gender equality; STEM; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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