Maternal Employment Preferences in Poland and Slovakia

Hana Třísková
Demografie, 67(3): 107–123
https://doi.org/10.54694/dem.0367

Abstract
This study examines the preferences of men and women towards maternal employment, focusing on mothers with pre-school-age and school-age children in Poland and Slovakia and utilising data from the Family and Changing Gender Roles V module (2022) in the International Social Survey Programme. Despite progress in achieving gender-equal access to paid leave and the increasing number of pre-school facilities, maternal employment has remained low in these countries, especially among mothers with children aged 0–2. The results indicate that Poles exhibit a stronger preference for mothers with a child under school age staying at home, while Slovaks are more supportive of maternal employment, particularly on a part-time basis. For mothers with school-age children, full-time employment is broadly supported in both countries. These findings highlight persistent cultural barriers in Poland and the positive impact of policy measures implemented in Slovakia to increase and support maternal employment.

Keywords
maternal employment, gender roles, traditional and egalitarian attitudes, parental leave, pre-school facilities, family policy, work-life balance