Women’s Roles in Non-Economic ActivitiesUsing Time Use Surveys in Thailand, Japan,

and China

Ms. Sudarat TuntivivatMs. Kanjana Tisayaticom

Dr. Phusit PrakongsaiInternational Health Policy Program (IHPP)

Presentation to IHPP journal club1 November 2010

IHPP meeting room

Data and Presentation Sources

Thailand • Time Use Survey 2001, 2004, 2009 (Data Cleaning Process)

• National Statistical Office

China • Time Use Survey 2008 • National Bureau of Statistics

Japan• Time Use Survey 2006 • Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Non-economic activities

Definition • Work, service, activities,• Without earning and compensation, • For household members, other households or

community

Non-economic activities

Group of activities for analysis in Thailand

– Group 1: Household maintenance, management and shopping for own household

– Group 2: Care for children, the sick, elderly and disabled for own household

– Group 3: Community services and help to other household

2009- All day activities- Prepare time every 10 minutes-Main and second activities (5 digits)- Representation (Whole kingdom, Region)

2004- All day activities- Prepare time every 10 minutes-Main and Second activities (3 digits)- Representation (Whole Kingdom, Region)2001

- All day activities- Main Activities (2 digits)- Represent ion (Whole Kingdom, Region)

Historical development of Time Use Survey in Thailand

(On data cleaning process)

International classification of activities for Time-Use Statistics (ICATUS)

6

Average time of respondents aged

10 yrs and over by groups of activity:

Time Use Surveys in Thailand 2001 & 2004

Non-economic activities

(hours per day)

6

% Population by sex and activities

Non-economic activities

Average time by sex and activities

Non-economic activities

(hours per day)

Household maintenance, management

and shopping for own household

% Population by sex and activities

Care for children, the sick, elderly

and disabled for own household

% Population by sex and activities

Community services and help to other household

% Population by sex and activities

12

Caring Responsibilities of Women and Men in Japan

Points

2.2. Most care workers are female. Over 40% of female care Most care workers are female. Over 40% of female care workers are non-regular employees.workers are non-regular employees.

1.1. Main caregivers in households are female. Main caregivers in households are female.

3.3. There are differences in time spent on caring activities There are differences in time spent on caring activities between women and men.between women and men.

13

Caring Responsibilities of Women and Men in Japan

1.1. Main caregiversMain caregivers in households are female..

Data: “Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions,” Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2007)

Main caregiver in the household by sex

Male 28.1%

Female 71.9%

14

Caring Responsibilities of Women and Men in Japan

Most care workersMost care workers are female. Over 40% of female care workers are non-regular employees.

Care workers by sex and employment situation

　　 NRegular

employmentNon-regular employment

Unknown

FemaleFemale 23,33023,330 60.7%60.7% 39.2%39.2% 0.1%0.1%

MaleMale 5,6815,681 86.9%86.9% 12.9%12.9% 0.1%0.1%

Both sexesBoth sexes 29,12429,124 65.8%65.8% 34.1%34.1% 0.1%0.1%

Data: Survey of working conditions of care workers, Care Work Foundation (2006)

15

Caring Responsibilities of Women and Menin Japan

The cause of care needs areThe cause of care needs are different between women and men.

Data: “Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions,” Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2007) 　

35.9

16.8 15.9

12.0

15.0

6.0

11.1

10.1

15.4

26.0

21.9

5.1

3.9

5.0

0 20 40 60 80 100

Male

Female

Cerebrovascular Diseases (Cerebral Stroke) Heart DiseasesArticular Disease (Rheumatism) DementiaFracture Asthenia due to a Ripe AgeOther Causes, Unknown

（％）

Major reasons for need of assistance or care by sex

WHO TAKES ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARE IN CHINA?

16

Responsibility by Gender

In China, women take on most housework.

Average time of housework:Women: 4 hours (234 minutes)

Men: 1.5 hours (91 minutes)

Sources: 2008 time use survey in China

TIME USE: WHO TAKES ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARE?

Sources: 2008 time use survey in China

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

M F M F M F M F M F M F

home < 1km 1-3km 3-5km 5-10km >10km

Minute

Cooking

Child-care

The Average Time Use by Distance between Home and Work Place

17

TIME USE: WHO TAKES ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARE IN CHINA?

Responsibility by Gender

Female participation of child-careParticipation rate: 22 %, The average time of female participants: 137 minutes.

18

More than 1/5 of women engaged in child-care, and on

average they spent more than 2 hours on it per day.

TIME USE: WHO TAKES ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHILD CARE IN CHINA?

Responsibility, Secondary Activity

Child-care as Secondary ActivityTotal F M

Total Records 8114 6026 2088

Records /per 100 Diary by Age Group

25-34 74 22

35-44 29 14

55-64 27 14

Sources: 2008 time use survey in China

19

Conclusions and policy recommendations

21

Women participated in non-economic activities more than men, especially household services and care for household members.

To reduce gender inequity, both economic and non-economic activities should be equally addressed. Non-economic activities, should be valued as monetary equivalence and included in the GDP estimation. Need campaign to change social attitude, especially men, on sharing responsibility in non-economic activities.

Questions and Comments

Thank you for your attention