Division of Labor Among Lesbian and Heterosexual Parenting Couples: Correlates of Specialized Versus Shared Patterns

Abstract

One of the central tasks that couples face in coparenting is the division of labor. In this study, we explored division of family labor among lesbian and heterosexual couples who were parenting 4 to 6 year-old children. Sixty-six families, half headed by lesbian couples and half headed by heterosexual couples, participated in the study. Measures of parental attitudes, resources, demographics, and division of labor were collected. As expected, lesbian couples were more likely to divide paid and unpaid labor evenly, whereas heterosexual couples were more likely to show specialized patterns, with husbands investing more time in paid employment and wives devoting more time to unpaid family work. Structural variables (e.g., husband's hours in paid employment) were the best predictors of division of labor among heterosexual couples. Among lesbian couples, however, ideological variables (e.g., ideas about ideal divisions of labor) were the better predictors. Discrepancies in occupational prestige were greater among heterosexual than among lesbian couples. Discussion centers on the ways in which gender and sexual orientation may relate to couples' decisions about division of labor.

Pride and Prejudice : Lesbian Families in Contemporary Sweden

“…Sweden is often described as more gender equal than other Western societies (Ahrne, Roman & Franzén, 2003;Magnusson, 2008;Ryan-Flood, 2009), with dual earners being the most common family form, and extensive access to parental leave offered to both mothers and fathers (Sverige Statistiska Centralbyrån, 2012;Swedish Social Insurance Agency, 2012). Lesbians are typically described as forming more equal relationships than different-sex couples (Bos & van Balen, 2010;Chan et al, 1998;Ciano-Boyce & Shelley-Sireci, 2002;Goldberg et al, 2012a;Patterson, Sutfin, & Fulcher, 2004;Perlesz et al, 2010;Tasker & Golombok, 1998), thus Swedish lesbians could be expected to put great emphasis on equality. The present study shows that most participants depict equality as an ideal, where some claim that their equality was spontaneously achieved.…”

“…This concerns questions of how household and parenting tasks are negotiated and divided among lesbian parents. Results have generally shown that lesbians are more egalitarian than different-sex couples (Bos & van Balen, 2010;Bos, van Balen & van den Boom, 2007;Chan et al, 1998;Ciano-Boyce & Shelley-Sireci, 2002;Goldberg, Smith & Perry-Jenkins, 2012a;Patterson, Sutfin & Fulcher, 2004;Perlesz et al, 2010;Tasker & Golombok, 1998). Still, some studies point out that the positions as birth mother and non-birth mother, respectively, tend to form divided parental roles, with the birth mother being the main caregiver and the non-birth mother the main breadwinner Ciano-Boyce & Shelley-Sireci, 2002;Downing & Goldberg, 2011;Goldberg & Perry-Jenkins, 2007;Patterson, 1995).…”

Growing Points for Coparenting Theory and Research

“…It involves far more than just the carrying out of childcare responsibilities (McHale, 1995;McHale & Fivaz-Depeursinge, 1999;McHale, Khazan, et al, 2002;McHale, Lauretti, Talbot, & Pouquette, 2002), proceeding even when fathers never change a diaper, warm a bottle, or get up with a colicky child at night. Indeed, coparenting can proceed in families where the child's father does not reside with the child's mother at all (Ahrons, 1981;Black, Dubowitz, & Starr, 1999;Coley & Chase-Lansdale, 1999;Lerman, 1993;Maccoby, Depner, & Mnookin, 1990), as well as in families without fathers (Apfel & Seitz, 1991Patterson, 2002;Patterson et al, 2004) or mothers (Hamer & Marchioro, 2002;Hilton & Macari, 1997;Silverstein, 2002). To be sure, the division of childcare labor can provide a very important window into family commerce, as illustrated poignantly by Patterson et al (2004).…”

“…Indeed, coparenting can proceed in families where the child's father does not reside with the child's mother at all (Ahrons, 1981;Black, Dubowitz, & Starr, 1999;Coley & Chase-Lansdale, 1999;Lerman, 1993;Maccoby, Depner, & Mnookin, 1990), as well as in families without fathers (Apfel & Seitz, 1991Patterson, 2002;Patterson et al, 2004) or mothers (Hamer & Marchioro, 2002;Hilton & Macari, 1997;Silverstein, 2002). To be sure, the division of childcare labor can provide a very important window into family commerce, as illustrated poignantly by Patterson et al (2004). But conceiving of coparenting principally as the division of childcare labor provides a very limited perspective on the joint activities of adults responsible for the care and upbringing of children.…”

L’ambivalence de la transmission des normes du genre par les mères lesbiennes : de la critique des stéréotypes à leur reproduction « pour le bien de l’enfant »

“…S'il me voyait maintenant, il serait un peu étonné, mais bon. (Adeline) Bien que non exempt de rapports de domination -lié notamment à l'inégalité de revenus ou de statut entre mère légale et mère non statutaire (Descoutures, 2010) -, le fonctionnement quotidien des couples montre une plus grande égalité que dans le modèle hétérosexuel traditionnel d'organisation domestique et des rôles parentaux (Patterson et al, 2004 ;Vecho et al, 2011). Quand elle est inégalitaire, la répartition des rôles n'est pas figée selon la ligne du genre -tâches féminines / tâches masculines -et n'est jamais jugée « normale » par les enquêtées, qui plaident la polyvalence et la renégociation possible de l'organisation en cas de changement d'emploi du temps de l'une ou l'autre.…”