Research from Senhu Wang and Cheng Cheng, from the National University of Singapore, used Understanding Society to find that women in heterosexual couples in the UK are using flexible working arrangements to manage more household tasks, reinforcing existing gender inequalities. When men work from home, their contribution to housework remains largely unchanged.
Women consistently performed 4-8 hours more housework per week than men. Tasks like shopping, cooking, cleaning, and washing were primarily done by women in 43-71% of couples, compared to less than 20% where men did these tasks. This research shows that flexible working increases women’s burden mainly in these routine tasks.
Men’s use of remote working slightly reduces their partners’ burden in shopping and DIY tasks, but doesn’t increase men’s involvement in other household chores or childcare.
Women were mainly responsible for childcare in 35-54% of couples, while men took on main responsibility for this role in less than 5% of couples. The gender disparity in childcare was more pronounced when women used flexible working.
The presence of young children (aged 0-4) and women’s lower personal income relative to their partner significantly increased women’s burden in housework and childcare tasks.
The study clearly indicates that while flexible working arrangements offer flexibility, they also reinforce traditional gender roles within households, increasing the domestic burden on women. This pattern is evident across various types of flexible working and remains consistent over time.
The authors suggest that this highlights the need for broader cultural and ideological changes, alongside flexible work policies, to achieve gender equality in domestic responsibilities.
Read the paper: Opportunity or exploitation? A longitudinal dyadic analysis of flexible working arrangements and gender household labor inequality
Our news stories highlight a selection of research using Understanding Society data. The views and findings of the research featured are the author’s own. If you have questions about the research featured in this story, please contact the author of the research.
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