‘A Tale of Women’? Gendered Patterns in Family Elder Care in Belgium

Abstract

In Brussels, Belgium, we investigated attitudes and practices regarding the provision of care to older family members from a gender perspective. Using a multi-method approach that combined a face-to-face survey with in-depth interviews, we found that attitudinal and behavioural differences between men and women on family-based elder care were limited. The results challenge the conventional wisdom that caregiving is always highly gendered, instead revealing similar levels of involvement between men and women across participation, frequency, and types of tasks performed – including personal hygiene, cleaning, keeping company, and administrative duties. However, the qualitative analysis highlights gender-based differences, particularly in the motivations underlying men’s and women’s involvement. Despite similar engagement in caregiving, men and women construct their narratives through distinct gendered discourses. Women’s accounts align with traditional gender norms, portraying caregiving as an inherent and expected extension of their role as women. In contrast, men reframe their caregiving responsibilities in ways that align with their masculine identity, distancing themselves from the perception of caregiving as ‘women’s work’.