Impact of Wife's Employment upon Husband's Housework

Abstract

The allocation of time is recognized as a major economic consideration for families. Analysis of longitudinal data on time use offers a fruitful method for examining change and/or stability in roles of husbands and wives. In this panel study of 1156 intact families, time allocation to housework and employment by husbands and wives follows a traditional pattern, with wives spending most time in housework and husbands spending most time in employment. Cross-lag analysis is used to examine the relationship between wife's labor force time allocation and husband's housework time. Basic patterns of time allocation predominate over the 6 years, with wife's employment time having very little impact on husband's housework time. Implications for families and for social policy are discussed.