Study Shows Women Expected to Miss More Work Than Men

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses perceptions and implications of a study suggesting that women are expected to miss more work than men due to societal norms. Participants express a range of opinions about the study's validity, its implications for workplace discrimination, and personal experiences related to work absences.

Discussion Character

  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that societal norms lead to women being more likely to miss work for family reasons, which may perpetuate gender stereotypes and discrimination.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the study, calling it obvious and questioning the use of tax money for such research.
  • One participant, without children, shares feelings of discrimination regarding how working parents are treated compared to non-parents when it comes to taking time off.
  • A participant with a young child reflects on how their parental status may affect job opportunities and discusses perceived unfairness in break allowances compared to smokers at their workplace.
  • Another participant echoes the sentiment of discrimination faced by non-parents in the workplace regarding time off.
  • One participant humorously references the study in a sarcastic manner, suggesting it lacks seriousness.
  • Another participant shares a personal experience about raises being given to employees with children, contrasting it with their partner's lack of recognition despite hard work.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ among participants, with some expressing agreement on the discriminatory nature of workplace policies regarding absences, while others question the validity and necessity of the study itself. No clear consensus emerges.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and opinions related to workplace dynamics, parental status, and perceived discrimination, reflecting a variety of perspectives on the topic.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants and community members interested in discussions about workplace policies, gender dynamics, and personal experiences related to work absences may find this thread relevant.

jrstephens
jrstephens
Messages
7,085
It's considered more socially acceptable for Mom, rather than Dad, to be absent from work.


And past research has established that women, on average, do in fact miss more work days than men. Why this is the case and its consequences, however, have remained subjects in the realm of hearsay rather than definitive research. Hello people, we miss more b/c we stay home with sick kids!!!!!

A new study formally links the data and the norm, indicating women miss more work than men because that's what society expects. This seemingly benign "policy" could foster workplace discrimination in wages and advancement for women, the study authors suggest.


"The results suggest that a distinct absence culture exists for women that might legitimize their absenteeism, but it might also perpetuate gender stereotypes and lead to gender discrimination," said researcher Eric Patton of Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.


Patton and Saint Joseph's colleague Gary Johns examined nearly 3,000 New York Times articles dealing with work absence from 1851 through 2004, focusing on the 167 news items that mentioned women.


Overall, they found absence by women was less likely to be associated with punishment than men, and women's absence was rarely noted as deviant.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20071116/sc_livescience/womenexpectedtomissmoreworkthanmen
 
This is the stupidest "study" to come out yet...I think it's a no brainer!
 
I'm just wondering how much of our tax money went into this study. It reminds me a bit of the study a couple of years ago that was done to find out why hog farms stink. Both have fairly obvious conclusions.
 
What I don't like, as a working person without children, is that working parents (both genders) are forgiven additional days they take to stay home with their children. But non-parents are expected to never miss a day due to personal illness. That's discriminatory, too. Same with arriving late/leaving early.My company doesn't use "Mrs." as a title on women's resumes because people assume that married women have children and will therefore have more restrictive schedules and time off requirements than non-married women, because they assume the marrieds have children.
 
That could also be said as a mother of a young child, I am fairly certain that you would get a job based on the fact that you have no children, versus myself, who has a 3 yr old and would be "expected" to be taking some add'l time off for various illnesses by my child.
My last job that I held, there were a few smokers there, and while they were allowed to go outside 2x per day to have their "smoke break", I, as a nonsmoker was not permitted any kind of add'l break to compensate for the break made up by the smokers..Discimination? I think so.
I am certain this topic could be debated around for quite a while.
 
chefann said:
What I don't like, as a working person without children, is that working parents (both genders) are forgiven additional days they take to stay home with their children. But non-parents are expected to never miss a day due to personal illness. That's discriminatory, too. Same with arriving late/leaving early.
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Click to expand...

Amen sister!
 
Gee, I never heard of the Miss More Work Pagent. At least, Burt Parks could get employment again.
 
Get this, at my hubby's old work you would get a raise when you had a kid!!!!! The person deserving of the raise and always saving the day (ahem....hubby) got one raise in 6 years. I am soooooooooo glad he is out of there!
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the study indicate about women's work attendance compared to men's?

The study indicates that women are expected to miss more work than men, highlighting potential disparities in workplace attendance and the factors that contribute to these differences, such as caregiving responsibilities and health-related issues.

What factors contribute to women missing more work than men?

Factors contributing to women missing more work than men include caregiving responsibilities, such as taking care of children or elderly family members, as well as health issues that may disproportionately affect women, including reproductive health concerns.

How can employers address the issue of women missing more work?

Employers can address this issue by implementing flexible work arrangements, providing support for caregiving responsibilities, and promoting a culture of health and wellness that encourages both men and women to prioritize their well-being.

What impact does missing work have on women's careers?

Missing work can have significant impacts on women's careers, including potential setbacks in promotions, reduced income, and diminished opportunities for professional development, which can perpetuate gender disparities in the workplace.

Are there any solutions proposed in the study to mitigate this issue?

Yes, the study proposes several solutions, including offering paid family leave, creating supportive workplace policies, and fostering an inclusive environment that recognizes and accommodates the unique challenges faced by women in the workforce.

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