Ever wondered why mums still seem to do most of... Show more
Sociology73 views·Updated Jun 6, 2026·2 pagesUnderstanding Gender Roles in Labor Sharing
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Are Couples Becoming More Equal?
You've probably noticed that today's families look pretty different from your grandparents' generation. March of progress sociologists reckon things are getting fairer, with blokes doing more housework and women taking on bigger roles in paid work outside the home.
The evidence seems promising at first glance. Gershuny found that when women work full-time, couples tend to split household tasks more evenly than in the past. Sullivan's research backs this up, showing that more couples are sharing domestic work equally and men are getting stuck into traditionally 'female' jobs around the house.
But here's where it gets interesting - feminist researchers aren't buying this progress story. They argue that women are actually dealing with a dual burden, juggling paid employment whilst still doing the lion's share of unpaid domestic work. It's like having two full-time jobs but only getting paid for one.
Key Insight: Only 1% of fathers take main responsibility when their child is ill, even though 78% regularly play with their kids - showing the difference between 'fun' parenting and actual caregiving responsibility.
The reality is even tougher than it first appears. Duncombe and Marsden identified something called the triple shift - women handling housework, paid work, and what Hochschild calls 'emotion work' (basically managing everyone else's feelings whilst keeping your own in check). That's a proper juggling act that would challenge anyone.
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Explaining the Gender Division of Labour
So why does this inequality persist even when both partners are earning? Crompton and Lyonette reckon there are two main reasons: cultural expectations (what society thinks women should do) and material factors (basically, who earns what).
Cultural explanations focus on how we're raised and what society expects. Gershuny discovered that couples whose parents shared housework more equally tend to do the same - it's like passing down a family tradition of fairness. Dunne's research on lesbian couples is particularly eye-opening, showing they have much more equal relationships because they're not following traditional 'gender scripts' about who should do what.
The material explanation is all about money and practical considerations. Kan found that for every £10,000 extra a woman earns, she does two fewer hours of housework per week - basically, higher earnings buy you out of some domestic duties. Middle-class women can afford ready meals, childcare, and cleaning help rather than doing everything themselves.
Key Insight: When women become the main breadwinner and men are unemployed, household labour becomes much more equal - suggesting money talks louder than traditional gender roles.
What's really interesting is how these factors work together. Ramos showed that unemployed men whose partners are full-time breadwinners do just as much domestic work - proving that when economic circumstances change, so do household arrangements. It's not just about biology or unchangeable gender roles.
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Sociology73 views·Updated Jun 6, 2026·2 pagesUnderstanding Gender Roles in Labor Sharing
Ever wondered why mums still seem to do most of the housework even when they're working full-time jobs? The relationship between paid work and who does what at home is way more complicated than you might think, with some massive... Show more
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Are Couples Becoming More Equal?
You've probably noticed that today's families look pretty different from your grandparents' generation. March of progress sociologists reckon things are getting fairer, with blokes doing more housework and women taking on bigger roles in paid work outside the home.
The evidence seems promising at first glance. Gershuny found that when women work full-time, couples tend to split household tasks more evenly than in the past. Sullivan's research backs this up, showing that more couples are sharing domestic work equally and men are getting stuck into traditionally 'female' jobs around the house.
But here's where it gets interesting - feminist researchers aren't buying this progress story. They argue that women are actually dealing with a dual burden, juggling paid employment whilst still doing the lion's share of unpaid domestic work. It's like having two full-time jobs but only getting paid for one.
Key Insight: Only 1% of fathers take main responsibility when their child is ill, even though 78% regularly play with their kids - showing the difference between 'fun' parenting and actual caregiving responsibility.
The reality is even tougher than it first appears. Duncombe and Marsden identified something called the triple shift - women handling housework, paid work, and what Hochschild calls 'emotion work' (basically managing everyone else's feelings whilst keeping your own in check). That's a proper juggling act that would challenge anyone.
2
of 2Sign up to see the content. It's free!
- Access to all documents
- Improve your grades
- Join milions of students
Explaining the Gender Division of Labour
So why does this inequality persist even when both partners are earning? Crompton and Lyonette reckon there are two main reasons: cultural expectations (what society thinks women should do) and material factors (basically, who earns what).
Cultural explanations focus on how we're raised and what society expects. Gershuny discovered that couples whose parents shared housework more equally tend to do the same - it's like passing down a family tradition of fairness. Dunne's research on lesbian couples is particularly eye-opening, showing they have much more equal relationships because they're not following traditional 'gender scripts' about who should do what.
The material explanation is all about money and practical considerations. Kan found that for every £10,000 extra a woman earns, she does two fewer hours of housework per week - basically, higher earnings buy you out of some domestic duties. Middle-class women can afford ready meals, childcare, and cleaning help rather than doing everything themselves.
Key Insight: When women become the main breadwinner and men are unemployed, household labour becomes much more equal - suggesting money talks louder than traditional gender roles.
What's really interesting is how these factors work together. Ramos showed that unemployed men whose partners are full-time breadwinners do just as much domestic work - proving that when economic circumstances change, so do household arrangements. It's not just about biology or unchangeable gender roles.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
Most popular content: Gender Roles
8Most popular content in Sociology
9Most popular content
9Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.6/5App Store
4.7/5Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan SiOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha KlichAndroid user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
AnnaiOS user