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Flexible Working Hours, Family Responsibilities, and Female Self‐Employment
Author(s) -
Boden Richard J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
american journal of economics and sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1536-7150
pISSN - 0002-9246
DOI - 10.1111/j.1536-7150.1999.tb03285.x
Subject(s) - flexibility (engineering) , work schedule , schedule , family leave , work–family conflict , psychology , family friendly , current population survey , association (psychology) , demographic economics , population , family conflict , work (physics) , demography , social psychology , sociology , economics , management , engineering , mechanical engineering , psychotherapist
Using cross‐sectional data from the Contingent Work Survey of the February 1995 Current Population Survey, we present direct evidence that there are substantial gender differences in the reasons why individuals become self‐employed. In particular, women–especially women with young children–are more likely than men to cite flexibility of schedule and family‐related reasons for becoming self‐employed. Men's reasons for becoming self‐employed show little association with their parental status. Our findings suggest that employers should be encouraged to offer working conditions that are more friendly to workers whose family obligations conflict with traditional, forty‐hour‐per‐week jobs.