Gender Myth Challenged

Results from a research study of employees around the world reveal that, when it comes to work and family, men and women are more alike than different. This finding conflicts with a widely held assumption that male identity is rooted in work, whereas women place a higher priority on personal/family life.

Findings of the Global Study on Men and Work-Life Integration, conducted by WFD and the Alliance for Work/Life Professionals, include:

• In terms of work identification and personal/family identity, there is little difference among generations or between men and women. Instead, the tangible difference can be found between emerging and developed countries, with work identification registering much higher in emerging markets than in developed ones.
• Finding time for family is especially challenging for men, and both men and women seek more personal time for exercise and hobbies.
• Business leaders around the world have bought into the business case for work-life effectiveness and have programs and policies in place. However, these programs are often ineffective because managers still cling to the notion that the “ideal worker” is an employee with few personal commitments.

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