Gender and the Effects of Demographics, Status, and Work Values on Work Centrality

The author compares the work role centrality of married working women and men and the factors related to it. The factors of socialization, status, status inconsistency, and work values as well as job satisfaction are examined. Although in the aggregate women are found to be less work-centered than men, further specification indicates that this is true mainly in the intermediate socioeconomic status (SES) categories, but not in others. The author proposes that this is related to the greater status inconsistency that women experience in these SES categories, and to their dual role as wives and mothers and employed workers. For women only, country of origin is of relevance to work role centrality (WRC), suggesting the importance of socialization. A combined model of status, work values, and job satisfaction explains WRC best for men, whereas status, socialization, and job satisfaction explains it best for women.