MSMU RSWG 2023 final - Flipbook - Page 24
GENDER DIVISION OF HOUSEHOLD LABOR
Traditionally, the major responsibility for domestic and childcare work has fallen to the mother. But the
pandemic at times shifted schooling, childcare, and some paid work to the home. In 2020, a survey was
conducted to see if a shift in the division of labor at home followed suit. While the survey found that
fathers increased the time they spent in housework and childcare during the pandemic, mothers also
increased the time they spent in these tasks. The result: Housework and childcare remain the primary
responsibility of the mother.64
Note: These data are
gathered via survey,
separately, from each parent.
FIGURE 12
PARENT WITH MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDCARE IN WORK-FROM-HOME ERA
Source: Gender and Society
WOMEN
MEN
ALL PARTNERED PARENTS
66%
24%
EMPLOYED PARENTS AND WORKING FROM HOME
NEITHER SPOUSE WORKED FROM HOME
56%
23%
ONE WORKED FROM HOME
60%
11%
BOTH WORKED FROM HOME
72%
33%
As the above figure shows, women still shoulder more responsibility for childcare than men when
examined in the aggregate. The same holds true for division of household chores.
Among all partnered parents, 77% of mothers say they also have major responsibility for housework,
compared to 35% of fathers who say they have the bulk of the housework duties. And even among
families where the mother is employed, 77% of mothers report being mainly responsible for housework
and 61% report being mainly responsible for care of children.
24 THE REPORT ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN CALIFORNIA | 2023
