Husband—wife Division of Labour and Quality of Family Life*

Abstract

This paper reports data on the relationship between how couples perceive their family life quality and the division of household work. The sample consists of 210 Wisconsin couples. Time diaries and face‐to‐face interviews were used. Analyses indicate that the division of familiwork is not an important correlate of the congruency that the spouses hold concerning their family life quality. The one exception is that less traditional couples tend to be more dissatisfied with the work each does around the home.

The effect of sex role orientation on the amount of time spent in household production by the husband and the wife

“…They said "household production or household work, •.. comprises the multiplicity of activities performed in individual households that result in goods and services that enable a family to function as a unit" (Walker & Woods, 1976, p. 1). similarly, Goebel and Hennon (1984) defined "familiwork" as the activities performed in and around the household by its members, as well as physical and nonphysical care of the family, to create the goods and services necessary for the unit to function.…”

“…Factors affecting household production time of the husband Number of children. In many studies, the sample has been limited to families consisting of husband, wife, and children (Barnett & Baruch, 1987;Berardo et al, 1987;Dolan & Scannell, 1987;Fox & Nickols, 1983;Goebel & Hennon, 1984; Hafstrom & Schram, 1983;Keith & Schafer, 1986;Lawrence et al, 1987;Lovingood & Firebaugh, 1978;Meiners & Olson, 1987;Nickols & Metzen, 1978;Rexroat & Shehan, 1987;Sanik, 1981;Schram & Hafstrom, 1986;Shelton, 1990;Stafford, 1983;Walker & Woods, 1976;Wheeler, 1984). In these studies, variation in the number of children is essentially the same as variation in the number of individuals in the household.…”