Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2016, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (3): 192-215.

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Work-Family Conflict, Gender Role,and Job Satisfaction: An Analysis of the Phase III Chinese Women Social Status Survey

XU Qi1, QI Jingjing2   

  1. 1. School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University;
    2. QI Jingjing, Jiangsu Information Center
  • Online:2016-05-20 Published:2016-05-20

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Abstract:

The negative impact of work-family conflict on job satisfaction and business management is a much studied subject in the West. However, in China, academic interest on the subject has not yet gone much beyond the general information on theory and literature, and empirical studies remain rare. This study uses the data from the Phase Ⅲ Chinese Women Social Status Survey to investigate work-family conflict and its impact on job satisfaction. Taken into consideration of the patriarchal and patrilineal family structure in China, the analysis pays special attention to the gender difference in the conflict. We find that both work and family constitute the primary sources for work-family conflicts. It does not matter which of the two causes the conflict, it results in job unsatisfaction. Women are much more affected than men from work and family pressure and subsequently have negative job satisfaction. The finding provides valuable empirical information for theoretical considerations on the subject as well as some practical implications for business management.

Key words: job satisfaction, work interfering with family, gender role, work-family conflict, family interfering with work