On a quiet California morning a woman heads to his law firm, determined to become a partner. Meanwhile, her husband, a tech startup executive more than 600 miles away, sits at his desk in her home, ready for another day of remote work. (It also happens in the Campi Flegrei, but we remain humble).
This once unusual scene is becoming increasingly common among wealthy, educated couples in the United States, marking the rise of a phenomenon known as “remote husbands.” Yes sir: today at the table, directly from the social trends menu, we serve the "remote husband". Here's what it is.
Between wife and husband... a new family balance
The “remote husband” phenomenon is not a throwback to the 50s with reversed gender roles. Men continue to work, they do not focus primarily on cooking, cleaning and taking care of children. However, this trend reflects an underappreciated effect of the rise of remote work: the growth in the number of husbands working remotely.
Men and women still specialize in different types of work. Jobs in IT and engineering are disproportionately held by men. Teaching and nursing jobs are dominated by women.
While professions such as law and medicine may still employ more men than women, the situation is changing: more women than men are enrolled in faculties such as law and medicine. As a result, among young couples, she is likely to be more likely to become a lawyer or doctor than he is.
And if you think the issue is limited to the US, think again. We can also glimpse the same power relations in Italy. Here's a snippet from the analysis carried out by Anvur, National Agency for the Evaluation of University and Research.
Differentiated working flexibility
Different occupations have had to take different approaches to remote working. Only a minority of medical professionals can work remotely, but the vast majority must treat patients in person. Lawyers, however, may be tied to a specific state or area by their license or specialty.
Meanwhile, the industries that reported the highest level of remote work flexibility are the programming, technology, architecture, engineering and business professions. About half of people who work in IT or mathematics work remotely full time.
Benefits for both partners
This situation might seem like another way in which women find themselves disadvantaged. But this view is short-sighted. Couples compromise in many ways to make their lives work together. And the flexibility of one of the two partners (in this case the husband) can be to the advantage of women pursuing a career.
I'm not saying that. She says it Claudia Goldin, a woman. A Nobel Prize. Last October you wrote, in a document called “the women won”, also about how remote working can be a boon for women. Over the last 200 years, female participation in the workforce it was highest when it was possible to carry out paid work from home. Goldin also found that gender pay gaps are narrower in fields where flexible working is the norm.
But it is not the only factor that makes the new scenario advantageous. If she is offered a big promotion, contingent on moving to another city, she may have to refuse if her partner's job is tied to a different city. The "geographical liberation" of one of the two partners thanks to the smart working makes it possible for the other to climb the corporate pyramid.
Remote husband: towards a more equal future?
The rise of “remote husbands” represents a significant shift in family and work dynamics. As women continue to make advancements in fields like law, medicine and academia, the ability for their partners to work remotely is opening up new opportunities for couples to balance their careers and personal lives.
This trend not only promotes a better work-life balance, but also contributes to closing the gender gap in the world of work, offering women greater opportunities for professional advancement. In an era where flexibility and adaptability are increasingly important, the rise of the “remote husband” represents a step towards a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
