Sampson Lee Blair

Measuring the Division of Household Labor: Gender Segregation of Housework Among American Couples

Despite a large body of research on the household division of labor, surprisingly little is known about how husbands and wives divide their family work time across a variety of domestic tasks. What differentiates couples exhibiting gender specialization or segregation in household tasks from those couples who share tasks? Using newly released data from the National Survey of Families and Households, this study has two major objectives. First, a new summary measure of the gender-based segregation of family labor is presented. Second, sources of intercouple variation in the sex segregation of household labor are examined, focusing especially on the effects of time availability, family power, and gender role ideology. The results indicate that, even in the late 1980s, American couples exhibited highly sex-segregated family work patterns, including those couples in which the male partner contributes many hours to housework. The study shows that American males would have to reallocate over 60% of their family work time to other tasks before sex equality in the division of labor is achieved. The analysis indicates that this gender-based division of family work is symptomatic of continuing gender inequality and gender role socialization in American society.

Marital Quality and Paternal Involvement: Interconnections of Men's Spousal and Parental Roles:

Among family researchers, the study of parenting and parenthood has gcncrated a largc volume of research literature. Researchers havc sought to understand better how individuals are socialized into the parental role (Gage & Christensen, 1991), how the stress of parenthood affects men and women differently (Scott & Alwin, 19X9), and how parenthood can influence marital relationships (McHale & Huston, 1985; Waldron & Kuuth, 1981). The relationship between marital quality and parenting, however, is of particular intcrcst, given that the vast majority of the rcscarch in this area has concluded that the presence of children is associated with decreases in h e quality of the marital union (Abbott & Brody, 19%; T,eMastcrs & DeFrain, 1989). Whereas some studics have established that parenthood may be deleterious to marital quality, the reverse association-the effect of marital quality on parenting-is seemingly overlooked. And it is equally appropriate to consider the effects marital quality may have on parenting (Belsky, Youngblade, Rovine, & Volling, 1991). If participation in the parental role leads to decreases in marital quality, it is equally important, if not more so, to understand the effects marital quality has on parenting and parenting involvement. This study will provide an analysis from the perspective of marital qualily influencing parental involvement. We propose that the relationship will be stronger for fathers than for mothers because men tend to have unified views of the parentfspouse role (Pleck, 19874 while women perceive lhese roles as distinct (Komtcr, 1989). It is appropriate to assume, then, that patemal relations will be more susceptible to the naturc of the spousal relationship than will maternal relations. Our analyses will be directed toward determining thc sources of variation in the parental experience as affected by the different dimensions of marital quality for mothers and fathers.

Paternal Involvement and the Well-Being of Fathers and Mothers of Young Children

Recen t scholars generally agree that fathers historically have been “outsiders” in the central family p&ccss, but that recenlly the-ideal has been for more paternal participation in internal family relations (Lamb, 1986, 1987; Stern, 1991 ; Plcck, 1979, 1987). Research on paternal involvement therefore has focused on a descriptive analysis of men’s changing roles. For example, LaRossa (1988) and others (Coverinan & Sheley, 1986; Franklin, 1988; Furstenbcrg, 1988; Lamb, Pleck, & Levine, 1986) document that, despite the changing ideal, actual changes in paternal interactions with children over the past several decades have been small. While emphasizing the stagnant character of men’s family participation within the context of a changing ideal, research has primarily addressed men’s lack of family involvement or even absence, and the well-being ol children and occasionally women. However, little attention has been paid to the consequences of men’s family involvement, limited though it may be, on men themselves. In the present study, we analyze the effects of the contexl ol parenting, cspecially fathers’ family participation, on the well-being of fathcrs, relative to that of mothers. Wc posit that such analysis is especially crucial during early parenthood, and should incorporate an understanding ol gender role identity and work overload. The birth 3f a child and the ensuing task of child rearing are widely considered to signal one of the most significant transitions within American

The Division of Household Labor

The performance of household labor has generally been regarded as an undesired, yet nonetheless necessary, activity within most households. On any given day in a typical household, meals must be prepared, laundry must be washed, floors and bathrooms need to be cleaned, and trash has to be carried out to the curb for pickup. Simply, no household can survive for long without having someone step in and perform the necessary chores. Of course, if the chores are assumed to be onerous and unpleasant, most individuals might be reluctant to take on the responsibility of performing them. Herein lies the dilemma within most households: who will do the chores?

Adolescent Substance Use and Marital Status in Adulthood

Researchers have noted that substance use in the adolescent years is associated with a variety of consequences. The majority of studies have focused on relatively short-term consequences of substance use. Using data from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, this study examines how early substance use and current substance use affect individuals’ eventual marital status. Higher levels of substance use in the adult years are shown to be relatively deleterious to both women’s and men’s chances of marriage. However, initial cigarette use in the adolescent years is shown to enhance adults’ likelihood of marriage, whereas adolescent marijuana use substantially reduces the chances of marriage. Interestingly, early alcohol use decreases women’s chances of becoming married yet increases the chances for men. Similarly, early alcohol use was associated with a greater risk of divorce. Overall, the results point to the intricate nature of early substance use and the long-term consequences thereof. The results are discussed within a framework of precocious development theory.

Gender, Sex, and Sexuality Among Contemporary Youth: Generation Sex

Purpose The sexual lives of religious youth and young adults have been an increasing topic of interest since the rise of abstinence-only education and attendant programs in many religious institutions. But while we know a lot about individual-level rates of sexual behavior, far less is known about how religious organizations shape and mediate sexuality. We draw on data from observations with youth and young adult ministries and interviews with religious young adults and adult leaders from Muslim, Hindu, and Protestant Christian groups in order to examine how religious adults in positions of organizational authority work to manage the gender and sexual developments in the transition to adulthood among their youth. We find three distinct organizational styles across the various religious traditions: avoidance through gender segregation, self-restraint supplemented with peer surveillance, and a classed disengagement. In each of these organizational Gender, Sex, and Sexuality among Contemporary Youth: Generation Sex Sociological Studies of Children and Youth, Volume 23, 1 22 Copyright r 2018 by Emerald Publishing Limited All rights of reproduction in any form reserved ISSN: 1537-4661/doi:10.1108/S1537-466120170000023001

Adolescent Risk-Taking Behaviors and School Performance: Distinguishing the Experiences of Boys and Girls

Previous studies have examined the risk-taking behaviors of adolescents and their impact upon a variety of outcomes, yet comparatively few have addressed educational consequences. Using a nationally representative sample of American high school seniors, this study examines how risk-taking behaviors are associated with school performance, and how this relationship may vary by gender. Framed within the life-course perspective, the analyses reveal that while adolescent boys engage in significantly higher levels of delinquency and substance use, the consequences of such behavior appear to be greater for girls. The implications of these findings are discussed, as well as the gendered nature of risk-taking.

Family Relationships and Familial Responses to Health Issues

Around the globe, families are often faced with a variety of health issues, often as a result of social, political, religious, and economic forces. This multidisciplinary volume addresses the impact these issues have on the family as a unit; how they impact family relationships as well as how the family as a whole responds.

Gender Differences in Occupational Aspirations and Substance Use among Adolescents

Previous research has demonstrated that rates of substance use during the adolescent years are associated with school performance and teenage employment. Comparatively few studies have examined the linkages between adolescents’ occupational aspirations and their rates of alcohol and drug use. Using data from a nationally representative sample of high school seniors, this study examines how adolescents’ occupational aspirations may affect their patterns of substance use. Utilizing a framework of social control theory and precocious development theory, the analyses reveal that a strong association exists between the occupational aspirations and substance use rates of adolescents. Teenagers with higher aspirations report relatively lower rates of substance use. On the other hand, adolescents who aspire for occupations which involve manual labor report higher rates of substance use. Impediments to reaching desired occupations were also shown to be important, as teens who perceived that they may not reach their aspired occupation (due to financial problems, inadequate education, discrimination, etc.) were shown to be more likely to drink alcohol and use drugs. Substantial differences in these effects were shown to exist across both sex and race/ethnicity categories. Overall, the results suggest that the effects of occupational aspirations on adolescent substance use are quite intricate.

Gender Differences in the Effects of Teen Employment upon Adolescents' Educational and Occupational Aspirations

Abstract Purpose This study examines the relative influence of adolescent job characteristics upon girls’ and boys’ educational and occupational aspirations. Design/methodology/approach Using data from the 2010 Monitoring the Future Project, a nationally representative sample of high school seniors in the United States, descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses are used to examine variations in girls’ and boys’ aspirations. The analyses are conducted with a life-course theoretical framework. Findings Overall, girls are shown to have greater aspirations for attaining a college degree and a professional career, as compared to boys. However, the relationship between teenagers’ job characteristics and adult statuses is shown to be substantially stronger among boys. For both sexes, work hours are associated with lower aspirations, yet the particular type of job responsibilities, such as office work, increased the aspirations for both females and males. Research limitations/implications The findings strongly support the contention that the development of educational and occupational aspirations is readily influenced by the context of work experiences during the teen years. Given the variations shown in the aspirations and work experiences of adolescent girls and boys, future researcher should attempt to more precisely examine the work experiences of teens and discern how these may affect other developmental processes. Originality/value This study extends the current research literature by examining the distinct differences in the work experiences of adolescent girls and boys and how those experiences potentially influence the development of educational and occupational goals.