Is the compatibility of work and family just a wish for women?

Result

Reconciling work and family life is a key wish of many employees - but achieving this is not always easy, especially for women. Only 28 per cent of people believe that it will be possible for many women to combine work and family life by 2030. There are as few differences between the sexes as there are in terms of age or income. However, agreement varies according to marital status: 30 per cent of parents agree with the statement, compared to „only“ 22 per cent of singles.

Reasons

There are various reasons for this rather sceptical attitude. One of the main reasons lies in the existing difficulties and obstacles that make it difficult to reconcile work and family life, especially for women. Women interrupt their careers much more frequently than men due to childcare or other family commitments. And women are still often confronted with a kind of „double burden syndrome“, where they are expected to carry both professional and family responsibilities without adequate support and flexible working conditions. Another reason lies in the notion of traditional gender roles and stereotypes that are still anchored in society. These lead to doubts about women's ability to be both successful at work and committed to the family. Such beliefs influence many women's belief in the compatibility of work and family.
The somewhat more positive view of parents towards singles can be explained by the more positive experiences they have had. Singles, on the other hand, often lack points of contact and existing prejudices and ideas shape their sceptical attitude.

Forecast

Despite the current low level of belief in the future compatibility of work and family life for women, a positive trend is emerging. Increasing awareness and public debate about the importance of gender equality and the reconciliation of work and family life have already led to changes. Politicians, companies and trade unions have recognised the need to find solutions and have already pushed ahead with supportive measures to help women with this issue. Targeted measures such as flexible working time models, parental leave, support programmes and a cultural change are leading to an improved balance between work and private life. In addition, more and more men are also taking on family responsibilities, going on parental leave or short-time working and thus ensuring an improvement. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go and even in 2030 it will not be possible for all women to achieve a work-life balance.