Disentangling the Influence of Men’s Attitudes Toward Childcare and Housework on Labor Market Outcomes: Longitudinal Evidence From Chile

This article explores the influence of gender-role attitudes toward childcare and housework on men’s labor market outcomes. Using the Chilean Longitudinal Social Survey (2016–21), the study estimates an individual fixed effects labor supply model and addresses endogeneity through panel data correction methods. Although childcare and housework attitudes are often treated similarly, findings suggest they influence men’s labor market outcomes differently. Men with egalitarian views about housework are less likely to participate in the labor market, more likely to be formal workers, and more likely to face challenges redistributing paid work hours to housework. Conversely, an egalitarian view regarding childcare does not explain any of the outcomes. This difference can be attributed to traditional gender norms that associate childcare with women, leading men to feel less external pressure to participate in this task than housework. This evidence highlights the importance of implementing policies that promote co-responsibility and gender-inclusive work policies.HIGHLIGHTSMen’s views on housework shape labor participation, contracts, and wages in Chile.Egalitarian housework attitudes link to formal jobs and higher pay for men.Support for men’s childcare links to fewer full-time and permanent jobs.Women’s labor outcomes show little response to beliefs about men’s roles.Flexible work schedules and parental leave are needed to align attitudes and behavior.