Delivered by Ingenta
IP : 185.14.195.74 On: Mon, 11 Feb 2019 07:13:06
Copyright The Policy Press
27
International Journal of Care and Caring • vol 2 • no 1 • 27–48 • © Policy Press 2018
Print ISSN 2397-8821 • Online ISSN 2397-883X • https://doi.org/10.1332/239788218X15187914567891
article
Gender-based analysis of working-carer men:
a North American scoping review
Kevin Maynard, kevin.maynard@mail.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, Canada
Chloe Ilagan, ilaganca@mcmaster.ca
McMaster University, Canada
Bharati Sethi, bharatisethi8@gmail.com
Kings College, Canada
Allison Williams, awill@mcmaster.ca
McMaster University, Canada
The purpose of this scoping review is to fnd all existing North American literature on male working
carers and compare this information with female working carers. Searches were performed using
various databases, published between 1996 and 2016. A total of 506 articles were found and 45 (n
= 45) met all inclusion criteria. Five qualitative themes were identifed: caregiving characteristics;
motives for caring; work impacts; health impacts; and caring in the workplace and coping strategies.
This review narrows the gap in the literature with respect to the similarities and differences between
male and female working carers, and the way in which they approach caregiving tasks.
key words carer • gender • employee • scoping review
To cite this article: Maynard, K., Ilagan, C., Sethi, B. and Williams, A (2018) ‘Gender-based analysis
of working-carer men: a North American scoping review’, International Journal of Care and
Caring, 2(1): 27–48, DOI: 10.1332/239788218X15187914567891
Introduction
Globally, the number of people aged 60 and over is estimated to double by 2050
(United Nations, 2013). More specifcally, within North America, there are increasing
numbers of women in the workforce, smaller family sizes and a health-care system
that values community care and independent living (Government of Canada, 2014;
OECD, 2011). In combination with ageing demographics, a signifcant number of
changes will be felt in the labour market as a result of growing needs for care.
1
Of
particular note is the emergence of working carers,
2
family members or signifcant
others who provide unpaid care and assistance for a parent, spouse, friend, adult child
or life partner with a debilitating illness or other long-term condition while also