Cultural Conservatism and Perceptions of Women and Men Returning to Work After Parental Leave

Objective: The study aimed to determine how the decision to take or forgo parental leave affects social perceptions of women and men returning to work after the birth of a child, and whether these evaluations vary with participants’ level of cultural conservatism. Drawing on social role theory and role congruity theory, we examined differences in perceived selfishness, antisociality, and agency. Method: The study involved 138 participants randomly assigned to one of four groups that differed in the gender of the person described and that person’s decision regarding parental leave. Participants evaluated the individuals presented using adjective rating scales and completed a measure of cultural conservatism. Results: Women who forwent parental leave were rated as more selfish and antisocial than women who took leave. Higher cultural conservatism among participants was associated with higher perceived antisociality of women who forwent leave, while a nonsignificant trend in the same direction was observed for selfishness. Fathers who forwent leave were evaluated less favorably than fathers who took it. For perceived selfishness, a nonsignificant trend indicated an association between lower cultural conservatism among participants and harsher evaluations of fathers who forwent leave. In addition, women who forwent leave were perceived as more agentic than men who made the same decision. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of gender roles and ideological orientations in shaping social evaluations of parenting decisions. They may provide an important reference point for organizational policies and measures that promote an equal division of caregiving responsibilities in the workplace.