Rideshare fathers, flexible work, gender roles

Abstract

The platform economy has attracted interest from policy makers and academics regarding its regulation, job quality, the future of work and the impact of technology on employment. Yet, two key research gaps are the lack of research on the relationship between the platform economy and gender roles, and on the work–life balance of platform workers. This thesis responds to calls for more research in these areas by examining the nature of the relationship between fathers working in the platform economy, flexible work and gender equality. It also explores if and how the work provides fathers with flexibility to meet their paid work and unpaid care demands. The thesis answers the research question: What is the nature of the relationship between men who are fathers working in the platform economy, flexible work and gender equality? It is a case study of male rideshare drivers in Australia, specifically those who are driving Uber, and who are also fathers. It used a mixed-methods approach of document analysis, an online survey of 304 drivers and one- on-one semi-structured interviews with 39 drivers to investigate why fathers have turned to driving Uber, how they are balancing their paid and unpaid work, the subsequent impact on gender roles in their households, and how they are experiencing the work flexibility of rideshare driving. Four main findings emerge. First, the fathers in this study were driving Uber for two main reasons: work flexibility and earning flexibility. Second, in line with sociological theories that gender roles are dynamic this study also proposes that the platform economy may impact gender roles. Third, rideshare driving is providing fathers with a form of relative flexibility, which comes with constraints yet provides more work flexibility than their other labour market options. Last, that driving Uber provides an earning flexibility which enables fathers to adjust their hours driving Uber to meet their income needs and is unique to rideshare driving