Narratives of change and continuity in the perceived division of visible and invisible housework: A qualitative longitudinal assessment of men and women in Spain

Past research has shown persistent gender inequalities in housework; women not only invest more time on domestic task than men, but also assume responsibility and the related mental and emotional load. To better understand how flexible or resistant these gendered dynamics are over time, this article examines ’narratives around change and continuity in the perceived division of visible and invisible housework. Drawing on longitudinal qualitative interviews with 35 urban, highly educated, heterosexual, partnered adults in Spain conducted in 2012 and 2019, we analyse justifications and reasoning for their perceived (by one partner) housework arrangements. We find that time availability, personal cleaning standards, or life-course transitions such as parenthood are factors that contribute to explaining perceived changes in housework distribution over time. Alternatively, perceived stability over time was explained either by effective communication in relationships that remained egalitarian, or by the persistence of gendered roles. Our findings reveal that gendered inequalities continue to operate beneath the surface: women emphasize the burden of the invisible family load often unseen by men, while men tend to attribute inequalities to external factors. These findings suggest that achieving a more egalitarian division of housework requires, particularly in the case of men, a fundamental shift in attitudes and behaviours towards corresponsibility and proactive participation.