Household Extension, Reducing or Reinforcing Inequality? Women’s Employment, Immigration, Children, and Household Extension

Jeehye Kang, University of Maryland

OBJECTIVE This paper explores the implication of household extension for women’s employment, according nativity and considering extended households by demographic and structural characteristics. METHODS Using the American Community Survey 2008-2010, the paper uses logistic regression, predicting employment of women who are age 18-45, married, and not attending school. RESULTS Household extension is associated with increased women’s employment, especially for immigrants. Extended family member’s support or hindrance depends on their gender, employment, health status, and interacts with the presence of children. Importantly, the patterns vary by women’s nativity and duration of residence CONCLUSION The patterns of family roles provide important implications for the reproduction of inequality in women’s employment. Women’s nativity and duration of residence is an important dimension in understanding family dynamics