Girls Cook While Boys Play: How Gender Norms Determine Caregiving Labor Inequality Since Childhood

The health crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated a notable inequality within households. Women invest significantly more time in caregiving activities than men. And, this shows particularly in childcare. However, the disparity in the division of domestic tasks was already substantial even before the pandemic. The reality is that women have been dedicating more time to domestic activities than men for a considerable period.

Caregiving distribution in Brazil

Data from the household survey in Brazil reveals that in 2019, women spent nearly twice as much time as men on household chores. While men averaged 11 hours per week, women dedicated 21 hours per week to home and family care activities. This is equivalent to almost 68 additional work days per year, considering an 8-hour workday.

This pattern manifests in childhood and becomes more pronounced during adolescence. Up to the age of 10, these differences are modest, with girls spending approximately 1 hour more than boys on household chores (5.5 hours versus 4.5 hours). However, these differences escalate significantly as children enter adolescence. At the age of 14, this difference increases to 3.6 hours per week, and by 18, it reaches 6.5 hours per week.

These differences were even more significant in the past. Over the last two decades, both boys and girls have substantially reduced the time devoted to domestic activities. In 2001, children aged 5 to 18 worked 5.5 hours more than in 2019. The average hours spent on domestic activities decreased by almost 40% for girls aged 5 to 18 during this period, dropping from 16 hours per week to 10 hours per week. Boys’ time spent on these activities decreased by just over 20%, from 9 to 7 hours per week. Consequently, the gap between boys and girls decreased from over 7 hours to 3 hours of domestic work per week.

The disparity in hours spent on household and family care is even more pronounced for low-income families. For instance, on average, girls between 5 and 18 years old in households with a per capita income of up to half the minimum wage worked 11 hours a week on domestic tasks. Boys of the same age worked an average of 7 hours a week. In contrast, both girls and boys in families with a per capita income of more than 2 minimum wages spent around 5 hours a week on domestic activities, with the difference between them being negligible.

The impact of gender norms in the division of caregiving chores

The gender difference in household chores, even among children, is a global phenomenon. A 2018 study with 12-year-old children in 16 countries found that, in all of them, girls spend more time on household chores than boys. UNICEF also points out that girls spend 40% more of their time on domestic activities such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for family members than boys of the same age.

While some studies suggest that involving children in household activities can help build responsibility and self-confidence, overloading a child with chores to the point where they work a significant number of hours a day can negatively impact their education, as they will have less time to study. The results of a Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) study indicate that domestic work, often excluded from social statistics and not considered harmful, hurts children’s educational outcomes.

It’s crucial to highlight that gender norms stemming from the disproportionate division of domestic labor between boys and girls from childhood can have long-term consequences. Taking on more responsibilities at home is a major reason women earn less than men and face career setbacks. And, evidence also shows that male children of working mothers spend more time on caregiving responsibilities in adulthood.

The division of labor between parents, particularly if fathers participate in domestic tasks, predicts the attitudes of young adults regarding the allocation of household duties. This underscores that achieving gender equality in the labor market requires society not only to prepare girls for paid work but also to teach boys about unpaid work. Changing the disproportionate division of domestic labor between boys and girls is a crucial step toward this goal.

How can we transform gender norms?

Changing gender norms related to the division of labor at home requires a comprehensive approach, involving policies, practices, and social awareness. Some examples of the policies and strategies that can be implemented include:

1. Gender Education in Schools: Introduce educational programs addressing gender stereotypes from an early age, promoting equality, and deconstructing traditionally assigned roles for boys and girls.
2. Paid Parental Leave: Implement policies that offer paid parental leave for both men and women, encouraging a more equitable distribution of caregiving responsibilities between fathers and mothers.
3. Awareness Campaigns: Conduct awareness campaigns to challenge gender stereotypes and promote positive models of equality at home, highlighting success stories of couples who equally share responsibilities.
4. Access to Childcare Services: Provide affordable and quality child care services to allow both parents to juggle their careers with family responsibilities, including considerations of flexible time to accommodate parent’s needs related to their occupation.
5. Inclusive Corporate Policies: Encourage companies to adopt policies supporting gender equality, such as parental leave, childcare assistance programs, and the promotion of inclusive workplace environments.
6. Economic Empowerment: Develop programs promoting women’s economic empowerment, including professional training and job opportunities that challenge traditional gender roles.
7. Legislation Against Gender Discrimination and equal pay: Strengthen and enforce laws protecting against gender discrimination, both in the workplace and other aspects of life, ensuring that men and women are treated fairly and equitably. Implement policies and practices ensuring equal pay between men and women, reducing economic disparities that can impact the division of responsibilities at home.

These policies are examples of initiatives that can significantly contribute to changing gender norms related to the division of labor at home. In conclusion, there are still several ways to explore in the path towards promoting a more equal distribution of responsibilities between men and women.