'Let's put it this way, when he's at home he helps' : gendered forces which blunt the effect of equality policies

Abstract

Malta’s aim to increase active participation in the labour market brings to the fore the importance attached to balancing employment with family life. However, are domestic and care work shared equally between women and men? Do policies encourage the involvement of men in household responsibilities? More specifically, is Malta’s policy framework looking at men primarily as breadwinners or as carers? For instance, while the provision of tax credits for women facilitates women’s paid work, men’s participation in care work is an equally important issue in securing equal opportunities in the labour market. However, how effective are care policies in drawing men into unpaid domestic work? An equally important question, what are Malta’s social attitudes around house chores and care responsibilities? Because studies of men and gender equality are few and far between in Malta, the paper develops an understanding of the cultural, social and traditional role models that influence men’s role in private life primarily through the voices of their women.