The Association between Norms and Actions<br>The Case of Men’s Participation in Housework<br>

Abstract

Gender and family researchers are often puzzled by the differences between gender norms and actual behaviour. For example, many previous studies have shown that since the 1970s, attitudes have changed toward more modern gender role beliefs. However, this is generally not reflected in behaviour, this being especially true for men’s involvement in housework and care work. In this paper, we analyse to what extent gender norms correspond with men’s participation in housework. We examine in particular cooking, vacuum-cleaning and doing the laundry, because these activities reflect pronounced variation in norms and actions with regard to modern and traditional gender role attitudes. Going beyond previous research, which assesses the general influence of norms on practices, we investigate the relative impact of different types of gender ideologies, namely the strength with which respondents endorse (1) the male provider and female homemaker model, (2) women’s employment, (3) employment as men’s primary role, and (4) men’s participation in unpaid work. Our empirical findings indicate that positive attitudes towards male contributions to housework are a key predictor of men’s housework.

Masculinity and the Stalled Revolution

“…Although men are, on average, less likely to endorse egalitarian gender ideologies than their female counterparts, when they do, they are more likely to take an active role in housework (Grunow and Baur 2014; Kroska 2004) and child care (Evertsson 2014). That is, men who hold the prescriptive belief that men ought to be primarily breadwinners and women ought to be primarily homemakers are, not surprisingly, less likely to share household and family responsibilities with their spouse.…”

Closing the Happiness Gap: The Decline of Gendered Parenthood Norms and the Increase in Parental Life Satisfaction

“…However, recent research from Germany indicates a growing acceptance of childfree existences, particularly among urban and highly educated individuals (Bernardi, Mynarska, and Rossier 2015; Bujard 2015). Second, the relation between parenthood and life satisfaction is shaped by normative expectations regarding men’s and women’s involvement in various domains such as housework, child care, and employment (Moore and Abetz 2019; Stavrova and Fetchenhauer 2015; for Germany, see Grunow and Baur 2014; Lück 2006). The literature, both German and international, indicates that these expectations have developed differently for men and women and that new expectations have emerged for both (Lück 2006; Moore and Abetz 2019).…”

“…The recent shift toward fathers’ stronger involvement in their children’s upbringing was triggered by a change in gender roles for women. The “new father” is expected to take on a nurturing role and to be involved in parenting tasks (Dermott 2008; Gerson 2002; for Germany, see Grunow and Baur 2014; Kruse 2017). Even though there are country and class differences in the speed and scope of the diffusion of these emerging fatherhood norms, the direction is almost universal across Western countries (Kruse 2017; Plantin, Månsson, and Kearney 2003).…”

“…However, the challenge of juggling multiple demands and ideals has led to higher levels of stress (Gerson 2002; Hays 1996; Musick, Meier, and Flood 2016). For German fathers, the role set has been expanded from mere providers to provider-caregiver-all-rounders who are able to nurture and provide emotional support (Grunow and Baur 2014; Hofmeister, Baur, and Röhler 2009). Their socialization, however, might leave them ill prepared for these new tasks (Henwood and Procter 2003), and a lack of flexibility at the workplace may constitute another barrier to enacting these ideals (Coles, Hewitt, and Martin 2017; Garcia 2012; Grunow and Baur 2014).…”

Attitudes towards sharing housework in couple context: An empirical, factorial survey approach

“…Extensive research in the field of gender role attitudes has shown all kinds of individual socio-demographic variations in gender role attitudes, even for very different dimensions of housework (e.g., Askari et al 2010;Braun & Scott 2009;Cunningham 2001;Dempsey 2001;Grunow & Baur 2014;Kroska 2003;Ogletree, Worthen, Turner & Vickers 2006;Pampel 2011;Poortman & van der Lippe 2009;Robinson & Milkie 1998;Spitze & Loscocco 2000;van Berkel & de Graaf 1999). However, there is a knowledge gap if these attitudes differ in potential situations of couples that are independent of the respondents' own sociodemographic situation (Auspurg, Iacovou & Nicoletti 2017;Carriero & Todesco 2016Doan & Quadlin 2019).…”