Gender Equality in Albania

89 Pages·2016·2.04 MB·English

Public Perceptions
& Attitudes toward
Gender Equality in Albania

A Pilot Study
Public Perceptions and Attitudes
toward Gender Equality in Albania
January 2016 - Tirana, Albania
This research report is commissioned by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Albania,
with financial support of the Government of Sweden.
Opinions and views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) or of the United Nations (UN).
Tirana, January 2016
Prepared by: Marsela Dauti, PhD and Edvin Zhllima, PhD
Translator and editor: Majlinda Nishku
Summary
T
his study examines public perceptions of • Perceptions of women and men regarding
gender equality in Albania. Drawing on 450 their contribution within the household
interviews conducted in the four regions differ. Men were more likely than women
of the country – mountainous, coastal, central, to report that they equally share household
and Tirana regions – the study sheds light on responsibilities with women. For instance,
the following aspects: the division of household men were more likely than women to report
chores; the division of responsibilities for childcare; that they share the responsibility with
perceptions and attitudes towards the role of women women in cleaning the house. Or, men were
and men in the family; employment and income; more likely than women to report that dish
money management; career-family balance; and washing is a responsibility almost equally
recommended areas of intervention to increase the shared between women and men.
participation of women and girls in the labor market,
and the contribution of men and boys in the house. • Around 50 percent of respondents reported
Below is a summary of the main findings: that they take care of their children with their
spouse/partner. However, there is a sharp
• The majority of respondents – more than 80 gender division. Men were more likely than
percent – reported that it is usually women women to report that they take care of their
who do the laundry and iron clothes; clean children jointly with their spouse/partner,
the house; cook; and wash dishes. The two 60.47 percent vs. 41.89 percent. Meanwhile,
household chores where men were more women were more likely than men to report
likely than women to be involved were that they take care of their children and do
related to house maintenance and the not get any support from their husbands.
payment of bills. Women and men were Women and men were more likely to share
more likely to share the following tasks: childcare responsibilities in cases of health
taking out the garbage, shopping, and emergencies.
taking care of sick family members.
4 A Pilot Study: Public PercePtionS And AttitudeS towArd Gender equAlity in AlbAniA
• Men were more likely than women to report to respondents in rural areas, reported
that “taking care of the child” is almost that dishwashing is almost equally shared
equally shared between women and men. between women and men. Respondents
The percentage of men who reported in rural areas were more likely to agree or
that “taking care of the child” is almost strongly agree with the statement “a good
equally shared between women and men wife should obey to her husband, preserving
is approximately two times higher than the family peace and well-being.”
percentage of women, 27.91 percent and
13.51 percent respectively. • The mean number of hours spent on
household chores per day is 3.35 (SD =
• Public perceptions vary by education. 2.69; range: 0 – 20). Education, gender, and
Respondents with higher levels of education personal-level income were associated with
were less likely to report a traditional gender the number of hours spent on household
division of labor within the household. For chores. Respondents with at least college
instance, respondents with higher levels education reported spending fewer hours on
of education – college education or above household chores (M = 2.73, SD = 2.24) than
– were more likely to report that “taking respondents with high school education or
out the garbage” is a responsibility almost less (M = 3.51, SD = 2.78). Women reported
equally shared between women and spending more hours on household chores
men. There was a greater percentage of (M = 4.66, SD = 2.71) than men (M = 2.07,
respondents with higher levels of education SD = 1.97). Men reported that their spouse/
reporting that “taking the child to bed” is partner spends more hours on household
almost equally shared between women and chores (M = 5.69, SD = 3.03) than women (M
men. Also, respondents with higher levels = 1.35, SD = 1.86). The relationship between
of education were more likely to disagree individual income and the number of hours
or strongly disagree with the statement “it spent on household chores was negative. In
is better for the whole family if the husband other words, as individual income increases,
has a job and the wife takes care of the the number of hours spent on household
family.” chores decreases.
• The type of region (mountainous, coastal, • Women were less likely to be satisfied with
central and Tirana) and area (urban vs. the division of household chores (M = 3.80,
rural) also correlate with perceptions. SD = 1.20) than men (M = 4.19, SD = 1.11).
Respondents in regions with lower levels The higher the number of children under 11
of social and economic development were years old, the lower the level of satisfaction
more likely to agree with traditional gender with the division of household chores.
roles. For instance, a greater percentage There were no differences on the level of
of respondents in urban areas, compared satisfaction by type of region (urban vs.
A Pilot Study: Public PercePtionS And AttitudeS towArd Gender equAlity in AlbAniA 5
rural), civil status (married vs. non-married), shopping, cooking, and taking out the
education (college and above vs. other), and garbage, are almost equally shared between
partner’s education (college and above vs. women and men.
other).
• 40.89 percent of respondents (n = 184)
• Women were less likely to be satisfied with reported that both women and men have
the division of childcare responsibilities (M equal opportunities on the job market;
= 3.79, SD = 1.21) than men (M = 4.44, SD = 35.33 percent of respondents (n = 159) said
1.03). that men have greater opportunities; and
23.78 percent (n = 107) said that women
• Respondents were more likely to agree with have greater opportunities. There were no
the statement “a good wife should obey to statistical differences by the gender of the
her husband, preserving family peace and respondent.
well-being,” followed by the statement “it is
better for the whole family if the husband • Less than 50 percent of respondents said
has a job and the wife takes care of the that they would prefer either a man or a
family.” Meanwhile, respondents were less woman as boss – gender doesn’t matter.
likely to agree or strongly agree with the Women were more likely than men to prefer
statement “men should engage as much as a woman as boss. 32.43 percent of women
women in doing housework,” followed by (n = 72) said that they prefer a woman as
the statement “men should spend as much their boss; meanwhile, 22.37 percent of men
time as women raising their children.” (n = 51) said that they prefer a woman as
their boss.
• Public perceptions vary by gender. Men,
compared to women, were more likely to • The income gap between women and
agree or strongly agree with the statement men is higher among those with lower
“a good wife should obey to her husband, levels of education. The income difference
preserving family peace and well-being,” between women and men with high
78.95 percent vs. 71.17 percent. Women school education or less is 194,053.7 ALL
were more likely than men to disagree or per month. Meanwhile, the income gap
strongly disagree with the statement “the between women and men with at least
wife should sacrifice her career for the college education is 48,773.91 ALL per
family.” month.
• Respondents with migration experience, • Interventions seeking to increase the
compared to those who lacked such participation of women and girls in the
experience, were more likely to report that labor market should focus on: enhancing
some of the household tasks, including opportunities for training and qualification;
6 A Pilot Study: Public PercePtionS And AttitudeS towArd Gender equAlity in AlbAniA
providing opportunities for childcare in men and boys to take responsibilities for
communities, such as kindergartens and childcare; and supporting paternity leave.
nurseries; promoting the employment of Other interventions – suggested by study
women in local and central-level institutions; respondents – should focus on: instilling
increasing the contribution of men in the egalitarian attitudes in boys when they are
house; providing incentives for women to little; working with family members who
open their own businesses; and creating don’t allow women to work; increasing
opportunities for women to work from state support for women; changing societal
home. Interventions seeking to increase attitudes toward women’s role in the society;
the participation of men and boys within and increasing family support for the career
the household should focus on: involving advancement of women.
men and boys in housework; encouraging
A Pilot Study: Public PercePtionS And AttitudeS towArd Gender equAlity in AlbAniA 7

Table of contents
IntroductIon .......................................................................................................................................................11
Methodology......................................................................................................................................................14
SaMple characterIStIcS ........................................................................................................................................16
FIndIngS ..............................................................................................................................................................17
Division of household chores ..............................................................................................................................................................17
Childcare responsibilities.......................................................................................................................................................................25
The role of women and men in the family .....................................................................................................................................29
Employment ...............................................................................................................................................................................................33
Money management ..............................................................................................................................................................................34
Career – family balance ..........................................................................................................................................................................35
Intervention areas. ....................................................................................................................................................................................39
concluSIonS and dIScuSSIon .................................................................................................................................41
reFerenceS ..........................................................................................................................................................44
appendIx 1 ..........................................................................................................................................................47
appendIx 2 ..........................................................................................................................................................48
appendIx 3 ..........................................................................................................................................................58
A Pilot Study: Public PercePtionS And AttitudeS towArd Gender equAlity in AlbAniA 9
List of figures
Figure 1: Doing the laundry and ironing clothes
Figure 2: Cleaning the house
Figure 3: Shopping
Figure 4: Cooking
Figure 5: Washing dishes
Figure 6: Taking out the garbage
Figure 7: House maintenance
Figure 8: Paying bills
Figure 9: Taking care of sick family members
Figure 10: Average number of hours spent on household chores by gender
Figure 11: Average number of hours the spouse/partner spends on household chores by gender
Figure 12: Taking care of the child by gender
Figure 13: Staying with a child when he/she is sick by gender
Figure 14: Taking the child to a doctor by gender
Figure 15: Taking the child to bed by gender
Figure 16: Taking the child to school/kindergarten/sports class by gender
Figure 17: Helping the child with homework assignments by gender
Figure 18: Average number of hours taking care of children by gender
Figure 19: Average number of hours the spouse spends on taking care of children by gender
Figure 20: “Men should engage as much as women in doing housework”
Figure 21: “Men should spend as much time as women raising their children”
Figure 22: “It is better for the whole family if the husband has a job and the wife takes care of the family”
Figure 23: “A good wife should obey to her husband, preserving family peace and well-being”
Figure 24: The decision on the number of children
Figure 25: Gender of the child
Figure 26: Family responsibilities impeding career advancement
Figure 27: Family members supporting career advancemen
Figure 28: Spouse/partner supporting career advancement
Figure 29: “It is good if the woman works but, above all, she should think about her family and children”
Figure 30: “The husband should sacrifice his career for the family”
Figure 31: “The wife should sacrifice her career for the family”
Figure 32: “If the wife earns more than her husband, this creates problems in the family”
Figure 33: Chances of getting a job
Figure 34: Preference for the gender of boss
10 A Pilot Study: Public PercePtionS And AttitudeS towArd Gender equAlity in AlbAniA