Environmental and Societal Attitudes to Working Hours in Gendered Perspective: Patterns, Preferences and Policy

Arntsen, Alexandra and Philp, Bruce and Donegani, Chiara Paola (2019) Environmental and Societal Attitudes to Working Hours in Gendered Perspective: Patterns, Preferences and Policy. Review of Political Economy, 30 (4). pp. 556-572. ISSN 0953-8259

Preview

Text Environmental and Societal Attitudes to Working Hours in Gendered Perspective- Patterns Preferences and Policy copy FINAL.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (864kB)

Abstract

This paper begins from the premise that environmental degradation is a profound and present threat and that work time reduction (WTR) ― with an associated reduction in consumption ― is one of a number of strategies which can be adopted to combat it. As a precursor to looking at how such policies can be supported, our research questions whether environmental attitudes are congruent with work time patterns and preferences. Our initial hypothesis was that those who care most for the environment would work less hours than those who exhibit lower levels of environmental concern, and prefer to do so. However, contra our expectations, our empirical analysis of the European Social Survey shows that those who state they care most about the environment are more likely to work longer hours, and prefer to do so. Overall, men tend to be less concerned about the environment, and work longer. Caring responsibilities, in contrast, fall disproportionately on women. We argue that this reflects traditional gender roles which are a residual from the social norm of the male breadwinner model. Given WTR as an environmental policy the task is to influence preferences and “green” human behaviour, especially among men.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1080/09538259.2018.1495352
Dates:	Date Event 11 May 2018 Accepted 31 January 2019 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Work time reduction, environmental sustainability, preferences, environmental behaviour, feminist economics
Subjects:	CAH15 - social sciences > CAH15-02 - economics > CAH15-02-01 - economics CAH15 - social sciences > CAH15-03 - politics > CAH15-03-01 - politics CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-02 - business studies CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-04 - management studies
Divisions:	Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > College of Accountancy, Finance and Economics Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > College of Business, Digital Transformation & Entrepreneurship
Depositing User:	Bruce Philp
Date Deposited:	15 May 2018 14:31
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2024 12:06
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/5934

Actions (login required)

View Item