The Socialization of Housework, Couple’s Time Use and Gender Equality within Household: A Case Study of Nuclear Family Households in the Capital Region of China…

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  • 家事労働の社会化、夫妻の生活時間と世帯内ジェンダー平等――中国首都圏の核家族世帯を事例に――

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Abstract

Domestic appliances and home economics-related services are becoming widespread. They are changing the way people do housework and they provide convenience to the daily life. However, women’s total housework time hasn’t decreased. Eight couples living in the capital region of China were interviewed through time use diary survey to investigate（ 1） the determinants of division of housework,（ 2） the impact of the extent of the socialization of housework on couple’s time use and gender equality within household. The findings show that leisure time of the couple, income, support from grandparents, sense of responsibility to care for the elderly and husband’s ability to perform housework are significant parts of negotiating housework. Sharing housework equally is linked to gender equality within household and the satisfaction of the wife with housework. The use of technological appliances and services could reduce the amount of time that wives spend on daily errands. However, attention has to be paid to the issue of long working hours and a lack of physical self-care time. Grandparents play an important role in providing childcare, because it’s difficult for the family to use outside childcare support services. Even though hiring a caregiver can reduce elderly care time of the couple, the high cost and the safety of care service provided by the private for-profit sectors are concerning factors.

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