BEYOND WEIRD COUNTRIES: Work-Life Management across the Globe

This chapter examines work-life dynamics in non-WEIRD societies, those outside Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic contexts, by integrating cultural, institutional, and historical perspectives. While most work-family research has centered on North American and Western European contexts, these studies often fail to account for the structural constraints and cultural norms that shape caregiving and labor dynamics in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The chapter argues that applying a WEIRD-centric perspective limits theoretical generalizability and reinforces conceptual blind spots, particularly in societies marked by informality, strong familism norms and obligations, and gendered caregiving expectations. Using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions as an analytical framework, the chapter explores how values such as collectivism and power distance shape caregiving practices, labor force participation, and institutional policy design. The primary focus is on the Latin American experience, using Chile as a case study, while incorporating comparative insights from Africa and Asia. This chapter seeks to broaden the reach of work-family research by highlighting how culture and institutions shape work-life realities, in a way that is context-sensitive, culturally informed, and responsive to global diversity.