Wives Still Handle More Household Duties Despite Equal Earnings
A recent study by the Pew Research Center reveals that even when wives earn as much as or more than their husbands, they still shoulder a greater share of housework and child care. Meanwhile, husbands tend to spend more time on paid work and leisure activities.
The study highlights that although financial contributions in marriages have become more balanced, the division of labor at home remains skewed. In 29% of heterosexual marriages, both partners earn similar incomes, around $60,000 each. However, in these relationships, husbands enjoy about 3.5 more hours of leisure time per week than their wives, who spend an additional 2 hours on caregiving and 2.5 hours on housework.
In 55% of these marriages, men are the main earners, bringing in a median income of $96,000 compared to their wives' $30,000. In contrast, women are the primary earners in 16% of marriages, with 10% being the main breadwinners and 6% the sole earners, earning a median of $88,000 while their husbands earn $35,000.
Interestingly, the only scenario where men contribute more to caregiving is when the wife is the sole breadwinner, with household chores being equally divided in these cases. This marks a significant shift from 50 years ago when men were the primary earners in 85% of marriages.
The likelihood of women being the primary earners varies by factors such as age, family status, education, and race. For example, Black women are more likely than their counterparts to earn more than their husbands, with 26% doing so compared to 17% of White women and 13% of Hispanic women. Additionally, Black women with higher education and fewer children are among those most likely to earn similar amounts as their husbands.
These findings are set against societal views on income and caregiving roles. Nearly half of Americans believe husbands prefer to earn more than their wives, while a smaller percentage think men prefer equal earnings. As for women's preferences, 22% of Americans think women want a husband who earns more, while 26% believe women prefer a partner with similar earnings.
Regarding family dynamics, 77% of respondents agree that children benefit when both parents equally prioritize work and caregiving, whereas only 19% think children fare better when mothers focus more on home life and fathers on work.
The Pew study draws from three data sources: earnings data from the US Census’ Current Population Survey, the American Time Use Survey, and a survey of 5,152 US adults conducted in January.