people often discuss gender inequality in the workplace, especially in the us - compare to what i heard and experienced in china (maybe chinese people don't usually talk about it in public?), including the book i'm recently reading reveals women have historically faced unfair treatment and "women accounted for only 9 percent of new recruits at venture partnerships" (the power law, sebastian mallaby).
as you know me, i'm wondering, really? how could such a disparity exist?
one explanation i've heard is that some companies hire fewer women due to concerns that they might prioritize motherhood and family care, which could leave them with less time for work.
is it true? what on earth are men doing with their time? if we stretch the time frame over a lifetime to compare women and men, rather than just looking at the episodes when they become parents. here is what i found from our world in data*:
*data source: time use from our world in data
men have more leisure time than women across all countries, with variations in the extent of this difference. the gap is minimal in norway, while in portugal, men report nearly 50% more leisure time. us? 361min for men vs 267min for women. the key factor behind these disparities is the gender gap in unpaid work, where women's disproportionate responsibilities leave them with less leisure. men may have more time for leisure due to traditional gender roles that place a greater burden on women for home-related tasks. the unequal division of labor between men and women at home and in the workplace can lead to a work-life imbalance.
now, let's talk about unpaid work and home-related tasks. how much do you enjoy those compare to leisures? here is the survey result:
what do you think?
so what are the implications for gender inequality based on leisure time data?
professional advancement: with women having less leisure, their chances to network, develop their careers, or follow personal interests take a hit. this contributes to uneven professional growth, limiting women's access to higher-paying gigs.
mental and emotional well-being: insufficient leisure time can crank up stress and burnout for women. it's a mood crusher, affecting their well-being, job satisfaction, and mental health.
societal norms and expectations: gender disparities in downtime are propped up by age-old societal norms and stereotypes.
work-life balance: achieving a work-life balance is essential for the health and happiness of individuals and families. when women have less leisure time due to unequal sharing of domestic responsibilities, it can strain relationships and limit opportunities for personal growth and self-care.
i'm glad people talk about gender inequality in the workforce openly. let's flip the script and spread more leisure love to women.
what on earth are men doing with their time?
games? sports? tv? party?
...
...
you know the answer better than i do.
(fyi: "men spend an average of 43 minutes per day staring at 10 different women")
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