Employment Status of Married Women in Hong Kong

This paper examines the choices married women in Hong Kong make concerning their employment status. We attempt to relate such choices to wives' role constraints in the family. It is hypothesized that, given their primary responsibilities for child care and domestic labor, married women are likely to choose an employment status that best accomodates their familial obligations. The analysis of recent census data supports this expectation. Waged employment and self-employment are found to be in conflict with women's domestic responsibilities, whereas outworking and unpaid work in family enterprises are not. The last two employment statuses are characterized by a higher degree of work flexibility and, thus, working wives are in a better position to balance the demands of family and paid work.