The gender division of housework and child care

In this chapter, I first review why the gender division of household labour and care is important for gender (in)equity and work-life balance. I outline the main theoretical approaches and describe some influential research findings, focusing on the factors identified as being the most important individual and institutional influences. Drawing on time use data, I discuss cross-national trends in the time women and men spend on housework and care in different policy contexts, comparing evidence for and against the idea that progress towards gender equality has recently ‘stalled’. I then put the spotlight on fathers’ contributions as a critical indicator of change. Finally, I outline the most significant challenges to research and policy in the understanding and promotion of greater gender equality in the division of housework and care.