Gender disparities in travel behaviour and leisure: A Tel-Aviv metropolis Time-Use study

Abstract

Achieving gender equality in mobility and leisure is essential to enhancing quality of life and wellbeing. This study examines gender disparities in daily travel behaviour, time spent outside the home, and leisure activities among cultural groups in the Tel Aviv metropolis, using a time-use framework. Leveraging travel survey data (2014-2017) from 24,359 individuals across 12,930 households, the intersection of gender, cultural identity, and socio-economic factors is explored. Results indicate that women, particularly those in caregiving roles or from Arab and Orthodox Jewish communities, face greater mobility constraints and complexities than their male counterparts. Women perform more trip-chaining activities, such as chauffeuring and shopping, but spend less overall time outside the home compared to men. Notably, higher education and flexible employment correlate with increased mobility and leisure engagement for women, suggesting pathways to mitigate inequalities.