Lifestyle preferences versus patriarchal values: causal and non-causal attitudes

In: Advances in life course research, S. 69-91

Abstract

"There is solid evidence, from longitudinal studies such as the NLS and PSID, of the significant long-term impact of values and life goals on occupational attainment and earnings. So far, these findings have not been incorporated into sociological and economic theory. Preference theory does this, identifying the social and economic context in which values and attitudes can become important predictors of women's (and men's) behaviour. A theoretical and methodological distinction between causal and non-causal attitudes and values is made, illustrated by data on lifestyle preferences and patriarchal values from comparative surveys in Britain and Spain. The results show that lifestyle preferences have a major impact on women's choices between family work and employment, whereas patriarchal values are only tenuously linked to behaviour." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))