Family Diversity and the Division of Domestic Labor: How Much Have Things Really Changed?

Few studies have examined the distribution of housework across family types. Using a nationally representative sample, this paper examines the division of household labor in first-marriage families, stepfamilies, families headed by divorced mothers, and families headed by never-married mothers. Findings indicate that, across family types and regardless of women's employment status, women perform two to three times more housework than their husbands or cohabiting partners. Implications for family life education are discussed.