Man's occupation linked to time spent on housework

Ladies, whether your man helps you with the household chores depends on what he does for a living! Men who are employed in traditionally 'female jobs' such as teaching or nursing are more likely to chip in when it comes to housework, a new study suggests.

Though women still do about two thirds of household chores, the division of labour may depend on her mate's profession, researchers said.

New research by University of Notre Dame Sociologist Elizabeth Aura McClintock shows that when married or cohabiting men are employed in heavily female occupations - like teaching, childcare work or nursing - they spend more time doing housework, compared to when they are employed in traditionally male jobs.

In addition, their wives or partners spend less time doing housework, compared to when the men work in heavily-male occupations, researchers said.

Examining data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics for the years 1981-2009, McClintock also found that when married or cohabiting women work in traditionally female jobs they increase the amount of time they spend on housework compared to when they are employed in heavily-male occupations, while their husbands or partners decrease the amount of time they spend on this type of activity.

"Importantly, occupational sex composition is largely unrelated to housework for single men or women, suggesting that occupation influences housework through interactions and negotiations between romantic partners," said McClintock.

The study was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association.