Working Women’s Preferences for a Residential Location Choice: A Case Study in Seoul, Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze married women’s preferences for residential location choices depending on whether they were employed or not. At the same time, we examined the relationship between the probability to choose residential locations close to women’s workplaces based on women’s personal and household characteristics. A survey of 180 married women living in Seoul was used for the analysis. First, preference analyses were conducted to examine the factors influencing married women’s preferences for residential locations, and, second, a logistic regression analysis was conducted to test differences of their preferences and to identify the factors affecting the choice of residential locations. Preferences between the two groups-working and non-working married women-differed significantly for neighborhood condition and neighborhood retail and service facilities, school quality, and types of houses. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the type of occupation was significantly correlated with working married women’s residential location choice. In particular, women who were office and professional workers and public officials were more likely to choose their residential location closer to their workplaces than women who were sales workers, elementary labor workers, or unemployed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Young Ji Park

Young Ji Park is a graduate student, and Kabsung Kim is an Associate Professor, both in Urban Planning & Engineering, Yonsei University, Korea;

Kabsung Kim

Young Ji Park is a graduate student, and Kabsung Kim is an Associate Professor, both in Urban Planning & Engineering, Yonsei University, Korea;

Hong Ran Jeon

Hong Ran Jeon is an Ofier in the Facility Management Department of the Seoul Foundation of Women and Family.