Work less, help out more? The persistence of gender inequality in housework and childcare during UK Covid-19.

Venue and Time
2.00 pm - Sala Archeologica, Department of Sociology and Social Research, Via G. Verdi 26, Trento

Seminar
Doctoral School of Social Sciences and Department of Sociology and Social Research

Speakers
Anna Zamberlan, Filippo Gioachin, Davide Gritti

Discussants
Gabriella Berloffa, Luca Piccoli

Abstract
This contribution documents the consequences of UK COVID-19 lockdown on the gendered division of unpaid labour within heterosexual couples. The paper specifically examines the impact of changes in working hours on gender inequality in time devoted to housework and childcare. We evaluate competing hypotheses derived from time availability, relative resources, and “doing gender” perspectives, drawing on wave 9 of UKHLS and the first wave of Understanding Society Covid-19 study. Following the literature on the gendered division of unpaid labour, we account for heterogeneous implications by comparing couples with different partners' relative contributions to household labour income. By adopting a counterfactual design, we provide empirical results indicating a stronger commitment to domestic chores (housework and childcare) for both men and women losing working hours. Nevertheless, this more rational and gender-neutral allocation of time does not rule entirely out gender inequality, which strikes back in female breadwinner families following a reduction of working hours for women. Overall, the paper provides fruitful insights on how theories of gender inequality in the division of domestic tasks could benefit from research on labour market shocks.

Booking
Please turn to the poster in the download box for details on how to book your place at the event.