Interactions between Women and their Elderly Parents

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between women's employment and their degree of involvement with elderly parents. It is based on interviews with a random sample of 81 women, all of whom have at least one living parent 70 years of age or older. The article discusses three possible connections between employment and parent caring: (1) that employment diminishes women's involvement with elderly parents, (2) that involvement in parent caring constrains daughters' employment, and (3) that combining employment and parent caring results in role overload. The analysis largely supports the first connection and suggests circumstances under which employment limits women's participation in the parent-carer role.