What the study found
The study found that subversive, collective action at the interactional level can redo gender at the wider institutional level in a large community that enacts gender egalitarianism. It also found that changes at the institutional level and changes in everyday interaction reinforced each other.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that these findings show how community-wide practices can create sustained structural and cultural change, while also making gender-atypical behaviour more possible in daily life.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used participant observation and interviews in a large community unique for enacting gender egalitarianism. They examined a set of interdependent practices, including uniform working hours and earnings for all members, communal provision of domestic labour such as childcare, and a 50:50 gender quota for representative positions with role rotation.
What worked and what didn't
The abstract reports that these practices collectively created sustained structural and cultural changes at the institutional level. It also reports that as participants became accountable to revised ideas of gender-appropriate behaviour, gender became less salient in how work was divided between women and men. The abstract does not describe any practices that failed.
What to keep in mind
The available summary does not describe limitations, and the findings are based on one large community described as unique for gender egalitarianism.
Key points
- The study found that collective action could redo gender at both institutional and interactional levels.
- Uniform working hours and earnings, communal childcare, and a 50:50 quota were part of the practices studied.
- The authors say the practices produced sustained structural and cultural change.
- Institutional changes and everyday behaviour changes were described as mutually reinforcing.
- The abstract does not describe limitations or failed interventions.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Community practices reduced gendered division of labour
- Authors:
- Reece Garcia, Carol Atkinson
- Institutions:
- Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-29
- OpenAlex record:
- View
Get the weekly research newsletter
Stay current with peer-reviewed research without reading academic papers — one filtered digest, every Friday.