International News - Gender Time Divide Persists Despite Equal Income in Marriages
In a recent study by Pew Research Center, it has been revealed that even when wives earn as much or more than their husbands, the division of time between paid work, housework, and child care remains unequal. The report states, "Despite financial contributions becoming more equal in marriages, the distribution of time between paid work and home life remains imbalanced."
The study found that in approximately 29% of heterosexual marriages today, both partners earn approximately $60,000 annually. In these egalitarian marriages, wives spend an additional 2 hours per week on caregiving tasks compared to their husbands and about 2.5 hours more on housework. Conversely, husbands in these marriages spend around 3.5 hours more per week on leisure activities than their wives.
In 55% of opposite-sex marriages, men are the primary or sole breadwinners, earning a median income of $96,000 compared to their wives' median income of $30,000. In contrast, in 16% of marriages, women outearn their husbands, with a median income of $88,000 for women and $35,000 for men. Notably, the only instance where men are reported to spend more time on caregiving than their wives is when the woman is the sole breadwinner. In such marriages, household chores are evenly distributed between partners.
Compared to 50 years ago, these findings represent a significant shift. For example, in the past, husbands were the primary breadwinner in 85% of marriages. Today, the likelihood of women being the primary or sole breadwinners can vary depending on factors such as age, family status, and education.
This report underscores the persisting gender divide in time management within households despite financial equality between partners.
In a significant societal shift, findings by the Pew Research Center reveal that Black women are more likely to earn more than their husbands compared to other ethnic groups. Specifically, 26% of Black women out-earn their partners, while only 17% of White women and 13% of Hispanic women hold this position. This trend persists even among Black women with a college degree or fewer children at home.
These figures emerge amidst a broader discussion on societal expectations regarding income disparity and household caregiving responsibilities. According to the survey, nearly half (48%) of Americans believe that husbands prefer to earn more than their wives, while 13% advocate for equal earning power.
The desires of women are not overlooked in this analysis. A quarter (22%) of respondents suggest most women aim for a husband with higher earnings, while 26% argue that equality is the preferred outcome.
In terms of family dynamics, a majority (77%) believe children thrive best when both parents equally balance their professional and domestic duties. In contrast, only 19% advocate for mothers prioritizing home life and fathers focusing on their careers.
The Pew study is rooted in three data sources: earnings data from the US Census' Current Population Survey, American Time Use Survey data, and a nationally representative survey of public attitudes among 5,152 U.S. adults conducted in January.
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