Research highlight: Grandparenting
Grandparenting can be joyous, tough, and gendered.
In 2019, National Seniors Australia asked thousands of older Australians two survey questions about grandparenting – whether they cared for grandkids, and if so, how often.
The results revealed that partner status was one of the biggest determinants, at least for men.
On first glance, there were no statistically significant differences in the dominant gender binary, with 27% of women and 26% of men undertaking grandparent duty.
But 93% of the men who cared for grandkids did so as part of a couple, compared to just 57% of the women.
This suggests there may still be a gendered aspect to grandparenting, as most male grandparents don’t have to do this unpaid care alone, while many more women do.
But people’s free-text comments captured the challenges and the joys of grandparenting irrespective of gender or any other trait.
One person wrote, “Becoming a grandparent at 80 years of age is physically tiring but brings a lot of joy into my life.”
Another described grandparenting as the “most amazing experience of our lives gives us so much happiness, love, and wonder.”
A third commented on the physical challenges they faced, writing, “The downside is that it is all about being energetic and the day after babysitting, the wife and I check out our backs and joints for pain level!”
To find out more, read the full report Australian Grandparents Care at nationalseniors.com.au/research/reports.
