ABSTRACT

This study used qualitative interviews to explore perceptions of labour market participation in relation to gender norms and parenting ideals among employed Swedish men and women of migrant descent. Using an abductive thematic approach, we demonstrate how the respondents viewed labour market participation from different perspectives. The females saw it as a source of emancipation, whereas the men primarily viewed it as a means of providing for a current/future family. While our respondents depicted themselves as dedicated to social norms of gender equality, they expressed gender-biased views on work and family. The respondents’ immigrant heritage also influenced their views on labour market participation, gender and family. Gender inequalities in the parental generation motivated them to arrange their work and family lives differently, and the Swedish social and political context offered them incentives and opportunities to be more gender-equal than their parents. We view and analyse these findings from a life course-perspective, showing how cultural and contextual influences affect respondents’ perspectives on work and family arrangements.

摘要

这项研究使用定性访谈来探讨劳动力市场参与的瑞典劳动力中男女之间的性别规范和育儿理想之间的关系。我们使用一种归纳主题方法，展示了受访者如何从不同角度看待劳动力市场的参与。女性将其视为解放的源泉，而男性则主要将其视为提供当前/未来家庭的一种手段。尽管我们的受访者将自己描述为致力于性别平等的社会规范，但他们对工作和家庭表达了性别偏见。受访者的移民传统也影响了他们对劳动力市场参与，性别和家庭的看法。父母一代中的性别不平等促使他们以不同的方式安排工作和家庭生活，瑞典的社会和政治环境为他们提供了比父母更平等的激励和机会。我们从生命历程的角度来查看和分析这些发现，以显示文化和背景的影响如何影响受访者对工作和家庭安排的看法。