Strategies and values towards co-responsibility in care in European countries

Abstract

Work-life balance policies are one of the most influential factors in the equal sharing of care between women and men. However, for far-reaching changes to take place in the gender-based division of work in societies, those policies must be accompanied by a new framework of social values, so that care tasks cease to be associated with families and with women. This study links work-life balance models in European countries with predominant social values in regard to gender equality in care and employment. The sources of information used are previous studies on work-life balance plus data from the OECD, Eurostat and the European Values Study. A high degree of consistency is observed between the work-life balance models in place and the values held concerning gender equality in those countries with the most extreme models, both the most advanced and the most traditional. The main conclusion drawn is that the traditional values that predominate in numerous countries may be holding back policies that could firmly foster co-responsibility on the part of women, men and public administrations on matters of care.