Why women are still left doing most of the housework

An Oxford University study says if current trends continue, women will probably have to wait until 2050 before men are doing an equal share of the household chores and childcare. According to the paper published in the latest issue of the journal Sociology , 'substantial and persistent obstacles' remain. The international study, conducted by the ESRC-funded Centre for Time Use Research at Oxford, has analysed more than 348,000 diary days from 20 to 59-year-olds in 16 countries. It finds that we are in the middle of a 70-80 year trend towards equality in housework and caring. Barriers to equality include the gender-specific view of whether certain household chores were 'men's' or 'women's work'. 'Routine housework' such as cleaning, cooking and caring for family members is viewed as 'feminine' while 'masculine' roles include non-routine chores like DIY, car care and outside work. The amount of time women spend on routine housework still 'dwarfs' time spent on non-routine domestic jobs carried out by men.