Women Would Lean In if They Didn't Have to Sacrifice Family, New Study Shows
Photo: The Weinstein Company
According to a new study by researchers Sarah Thébaud and David S. Pedulla, more women would gladly “lean in” to their careers if their workplaces would allow them things like flexible scheduling, parental leave, and subsidized child care.
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The study asked unmarried, childless American men and women between the ages of 18 and 32 how they would ideally structure their future relationships in terms of a work/life balance if improved workplace policies were in place. Some were asked that question in full, and others were simply asked how they would structure their future relationships, thereby implying that decision would be based on the workplace policies most companies have right now.
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Of those asked to answer the question based on current workplace policies, 65 percent of women on college career track said they wanted an egalitarian relationship. That number jumped to 95 percent when the question included improved workplace policies, which is huge.
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Cosmopolitan.com spoke with Thébaud, who said she was surprised by the overwhelming effect that the hypothetical improvement in workplace policies had on participants.
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"Basically [the study shows] that if we were to have broader, wider access to these kinds of policies, we would see more and more women taking up a greater share of employment and men taking up a greater share of caregiving," Thébaud said. "Now, on average, we still see men as the ones who are primarily responsible for earning income, but if these workplace policies were in place, men would help with caregiving and that would help women lean in to their careers more. That would enable everyone to have what the majority of people want, which is egalitarian relationships."
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In the meantime, I’m mentally moving to Sweden, where they already have these workplace policies and everyone seems happier. Join me if you like.
