Undoing gender in equal-sharing families?

Although there is broad public support for gender equality in both paid work and childcare, family responsibilities continue to be divided largely along traditional gender lines. This study examined how family work is divided within equal-sharing couples, in comparison to couples adhering to semi-traditional gender roles. Specifically, it explored whether traditional gender segregation persists and identified aspects of parenting that are most resistant to change. A sample of 154 parents with children from birth to 4 years old completed extensive questionnaires. Overall results indicated that mothers in semi-traditional arrangements performed significantly more housework and childcare than mothers in equal-sharing couples, while equal-sharing fathers did significantly more housework and childcare than their semi-traditional counterparts. Comparable levels of engagement in housework and childcare among equal-sharing parents highlight how couples are actively ‘undoing gender’. The findings also indicate that responsibility for childcare remains one of the most resistant aspects to change, even when family roles are distributed equally. These results contribute to the literature by extending empirical understanding of how gender norms are challenged and maintained within families that defy traditional roles. They underscore the importance of investigating socio-psychological characteristics that may support or hinder progress toward more equitable divisions of family work.