Evaluation of the Time Allocation for Work and Personal Life among Employed Population in Lithuania from Gender Perspective

Abstract

In this paper, researchers examine the allocation of time for personal life and work. In fact, this phenomenon is particularly relevant in the 21st century because employed people are most commonly faced with many issues related with work-life conflict or work-life imbalance. This kind of problem can occur for both men and women, yet it is noteworthy that the time use features can naturally differ between both sexes: women and men. For this reason, focus of this study lies on the evaluation of work-life balance between employed Lithuanian men and employed Lithuanian women. Firstly, this article analyses the theoretical background of time allocation for personal life and work. Secondly, the methodology of empirical research is presented and substantiated. Although the research was conducted in Lithuania, the methodology can be applied in another country than refer to a nationality. The results of the empirical study have shown that there are some differences in time use between both sexes: women and men. Men spend relatively more time on sleep, other physiological needs (eating; personal hygiene etc.), science / studies, leisure (in the narrow sense), and traveling than women do. On the other hand, women spend relatively more time on paid work, housework and child care, and other activities of life. It should be emphasized that a significant difference in leisure time (in the narrow sense) use between men and women has been identified. This gives the opportunity to predicate that men spend more time in leisure (in the narrow sense) than women do.