Inter-generational co-residence and women’s work and leisure time in Egypt

• Published in: Demographic research Vol. 33; pp. 909 - 938
• Main Authors: Diamond-Smith, Nadia, Bishai, David, Gibaly, Omaima El
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rostock Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research 01.07.2015; Max Planck Institut für Demografische Forschung
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Aging; Children & youth; coresidence; Daughters; Demography; Disabilities; Disability; Economic models; Egypt; Evaluation; Families & family life; female labour participation; Fertility; Households; Labor force; Labor supply; Leisure; Leisure time; Life expectancy; Middle East; Mothers; North Africa; Older adults; Older people; Parents; Parents & parenting; Patriarchy; quality of life; Research Article; Social aspects; time use; Women; Work-life balance; Workforce; Working women; Egypt; Middle East; Egypt, Arab Rep
• ISSN: 1435-9871; 1435-9871; 2363-7064
• DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2015.33.31

This paper examines the role of intergenerational co-residence in women's work, work time, and leisure time using data on time allocation in Egypt. Data were collected from 548 women with a living mother-in-law: 291 co-residing their mother-in-law and 257 are not. Survey data included work status, a 24-hour time diary, and a health assessment of the mother-in-law. Multivariate regression models predicted work, work time, and leisure time use using standard models. Co-residing with a disabled mother-in-law was associated with decreased odds of women working and fewer minutes spent working a day. Leisure time was not associated with the co-residence and disability status of a mother-in-law. Factors related to couples' relationships and the woman's views on gender norms were also associated with women working. Co-residence appears to be associated with women's work, depending on the disability status of the co-residing mother-in-law. If increased life expectancy is associated with more time spent in a disabled state for mothers-in-law, this could put downward pressure on women's work in this setting.