Coresidential union entry and changes in commuting times of women and men

Publication type

Journal Article

Authors

Publication date

January 15, 2018

Summary:

Women, particularly those in coresidential unions, have previously been found to spend less time commuting to work than men. This gender gap among couples’ commuting has been linked to inferior labor market opportunities for women. How gender differences in commuting emerge on entering coresidence is underresearched, however. This study examines changes in commuting times at the transition from singlehood to coresidential unions using the British Household Panel Survey (1992-2008; N = 8,122 individuals). Results from fixed effects regression indicate that men increase their commuting time when entering coresidential unions. For childless women, entering coresidential unions is not associated with changes in commuting time. Mothers reduce their commuting time on entering coresidential unions. Changes in labor income and domestic housework responsibilities, previously suggested as likely explanations, are not found to contribute to observed changes in commuting among those entering coresidential unions in this study.

Published in

Journal of Family Issues

Volume and page numbers

Volume: 39 , p.383 -405

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0192513X16646146

ISSN

192513

Subjects

#523645

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