Support, Demands, and Gender Ideology: Exploring Work–Family Facilitation and Work–Family Conflict Among Older Workers

Abstract

Only recently have researchers begun to investigate issues surrounding the work experiences of individuals in late midlife. This article contributes to the literature on work–family facilitation and conflict among older workers. I focus specifically on the extent to which gender ideology is associated with facilitation and conflict and whether that relationship differs for women and men. Using a sample of older workers (n = 2,253), I find that gender traditional respondents are more likely to report work–family conflict than are nontraditional respondents, with no corresponding association for work–family facilitation. There are no sex differences in the effect of gender ideology on facilitation or conflict. Results are discussed in the context of the importance of understanding the work–family interface among older employees.

KEYWORDS:

• gender ideology
• older workers
• work-family conflict
• work-family facilitation

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I thank Julia Anderson for her research assistance and Sara Moore for her comments on previous drafts.

Notes

SD = standard deviation.

Data from 2003–2005 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study Graduate Data, n = 2,253.

Mean values for continuous measures, percentages for categorical measures.

SE = standard error.

Data from 2003–2005 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study Graduate Data, n = 2253.

*p < .05, two-tailed tests.

SE = standard error.

Data from 2003–2005 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study Graduate Data, n = 2253.

*p < .05, two-tailed tests.

This research uses data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 1991 the WLS has been supported principally by the National Institute on Aging (AG-9775 and AG-21079), with additional support from the Vilas Estate Trust, the National Science Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, and the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author.

An earlier version of this manuscript was presented at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Southern Sociological Society, New Orleans, LA, April 1–4, 2009.