GENDER ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF TIME USE PATTERNS ON HOUSEHOLDS’ INCOME IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study determined the effects of time use patterns on household income based on gender difference in Ondo State of Nigeria. The study was undertaken to provide baseline information on the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, specific jobs or activities performed within and outside their households, the time duration allocated to these activities and the extent to which this affected their income. Sixty households were randomly selected from the two Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) zones in the state, Akure South Local Government Area from Zone 1 and Ifedore Local Government Area from Zone 2 from which the head and the spouse served as respondents; which made a sample size of one hundred and twenty respondents. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive tools included frequencies, percentages and bar charts. Inferential statistics such as regression analysis and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) were used to determine relationships between respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, time use and their households’ income level. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the difference in time use on various activities and income of the respondents based on gender. The results revealed that mean age was 46 years for male and 42 years for female respondents with an average household size of five persons. Fifty percent (50.0%) of the male and 61.6% of female respondents had tertiary education but were not gainfully employed. The major income generating activities of respondents were farming (15.0% male and 1.7% female), trading (8.0% male and 21.7% female), artisan (18.7% male and 10.0% female), processing of agricultural products (3.3% male and 8.0% female) and civil service (55.0% male and 58.6% female). Mean monthly income was N50, 900.00 for male and N40, 625.00 for female respondents while the overall mean monthly household income was N45, 762.50k. ii Results of the t-test analysis revealed significant gender difference (p ≤ 0.05) in time spent on the following domestic activities: Cleaning of the house and compound, Bathing for children, Laundry, Mopping floors, Making beds/changing linens, Kitchen cleaning, Food preparation, Setting the table, Dishwashing, Putting away clean dishes, Preserving food stuffs, Cleaning walls and cabinets, Putting away purchases, Lawn care, Shopping, Food and household goods purchases. There was no significant gender difference in time spent on all agricultural activities while only time spent on watching television out of sociorecreational activities was significant (p ≤ 0.05). T-test analysis also revealed significant gender difference (p ≤ 0.05) in time spent on alternative occupation and on income level (male = N50,900, female = N40,625 and t = 2.19) of the respondents. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) showed that neither time use on various activities nor the selected socio-economic characteristics of respondents had significant effect on their income level except educational level (p = 0.33, p ≤ 0.05). Regression analysis however revealed that age (b = 0.35) and educational level (b = 0.47) were significantly related (p ≤ 0.05) with income level of the respondents. The study concluded that time duration spent by the respondents on their main or alternative jobs was not as important as the quality of service (which is directly related to educational level) they had to offer, which actually influenced their income level. On the basis of the findings of this study it was recommended that: there should be segregation of duties in the household so as to reduce the bulk of the domestic activities on the woman. Government should come up with policies that will encourage creation of employment opportunities and enabling environment, there should be enhancement of female accessibility to credits and grants in order to increase their generation of income and government programmes aimed at job creation such as YouWin (Youth Enterprise with Innovation) should be sustained