Husbands employed in female-oriented job do more housework

NEW YORK, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- How much housework a U.S. man or woman does is influenced by their day job, and women do about two-thirds of household chores, researchers say.

Elizabeth Aura McClintock, a sociologist of the University of Notre Dame, found when married or cohabiting men are employed in heavily female occupations -- teaching, childcare work or nursing -- they spend more time doing housework, compared to when they are employed in traditionally male jobs.

In addition, their wives or partners spend less time doing housework, compared to when the men work in heavily-male occupations, McClintock said.

Examining data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics for the years 1981-2009, McClintock found when married or cohabiting women work in traditionally female jobs they increase the amount of time they spend on housework, compared to when they are employed in heavily-male occupations, while their husbands or partners decrease the amount of time they spend on this type of activity.

"Importantly, occupational sex composition is largely unrelated to housework for single men or women, suggesting that occupation influences housework through interactions and negotiations between romantic partners," McClintock said in a statement.

McClintock presented the study at the 108th annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in New York.