Question

When the first baby is born, women usually respond by adjusting their lifestyles to give priority to parenting and family roles, whereas men more often intensify their work efforts.

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

It is true that traditionally, women have adapted their lives to emphasize family roles after childbirth, while men have focused more on work.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement regarding lifestyle adjustments after the birth of the first baby reflects social patterns observed in many societies. It is true that traditionally, women have adapted their lives to prioritize parenting and family roles, while men have tended to intensify their work efforts. However, these gender roles are changing, with men in the United States increasingly taking on more domestic responsibilities. Despite this, research like that from Gyllensten & Palmer (2005) suggests that women still experience higher levels of stress from work-family conflict.

Historically, and as described by thinkers like Ogden (2019), women have struggled with the expectation of being both a 'good mother' and a 'good worker,' which has affected their opportunities and earnings. The concept of 'maternal feminism' highlighted the importance of women extending their nurturing qualities beyond the home to influence the wider society.

In certain countries, such as Israel, women work up until delivery, contrasting with places where women may quit work in anticipation of pregnancy. The necessity to work to support a family, especially considering the high cost of raising children, has led to new family dynamics and decisions around childbearing, as seen in Japan and other developed countries.