Couples' Careers in Flanders

Abstract

The chapter focuses on married women's employment in Flanders in terms of family formation, spousal characteristics, education, individualistic attitudes, & childbearing. Most Belgian working, married mothers opt for part-time employment; work orientation tends to be determined by age & education level. Despite Belgium's general integration of social-democratic & conservative welfare policies, it has been relatively inattentive to fostering women's economic status even while generously providing for family support. Yet no strong evidence supports specific spousal or parental-economic influence on wives' work transitions, indicating that individualism informs family-role & employment choices. 3 Tables, 1 Figure, 1 Appendix, 37 References. K. Coddon