The Division of Household and Childcare Tasks Between Partners

This chapter studies how housework and parenting tasks are shared by couples with children. In over half of observed cases, women take on most of these tasks, with or without outside assistance. But other less frequently observed arrangements exist, characterized by a more balanced division of tasks between partners and greater involvement of the man, who in some cases takes over entirely from his female partner. The way in which tasks are divided is related to each person’s investment in their working career. When one of the partners does not work, he or she takes on all domestic and family tasks. When both partners work, belong to the same occupational category and earn the same income, task sharing is more balanced. Lastly, while mothers who do everything or nearly everything report the highest levels of dissatisfaction, the same is also true for fathers who are not in charge of any parenting tasks. The couples reporting the highest degree of satisfaction are those who share tasks.