Flexible Working Hours, Family Responsibilities, and Female Self‐Employment

ABSTRACT Using cross‐sectional data from the Contingent Work Survey of the February 1995 Current Population Survey, we present direct evidence that there are substantial gender differences in the reasons why individuals become self‐employed. In particular, women–especially women with young children–are more likely than men to cite flexibility of schedule and family‐related reasons for becoming self‐employed. Men's reasons for becoming self‐employed show little association with their parental status. Our findings suggest that employers should be encouraged to offer working conditions that are more friendly to workers whose family obligations conflict with traditional, forty‐hour‐per‐week jobs.