The Effects of Transition to Parenthood on Gender Role Attitudes among Men and Women

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of the transition to parenthood on gender role attitudes. While previous research about gender role attitudes is extensive, little is known about intra-individual changes among Japanese men and women. This study focuses on the transition to parenthood as a life event exposing gender inequality. It uses three indicators of gender role attitudes and estimates a fixed effects model drawing on longitudinal data. The findings indicate that women become less traditional in terms of the narrow gender role attitudes and the attitudes toward maternal employment, while men change little. Above all, the effect on the attitudes toward maternal employment among women is linearly growing. These findings reflect the persistence of gender inequality in Japan and imply the mechanism of child-rearing women relativizing the gender ideology. The research focus on the transition to parenthood is effective in addressing gender inequality over the life course.