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Gender norms and housework time allocation among dual-earner couples

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  • Hwang, Jisoo
  • Lee, Chulhee
  • Lee, Esther

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of parental gender norms on the allocation of household work among dual-earner couples. Using regional variation in the strength of son preference in Korea, we proxy parental gender norms with sex ratio at birth in one’s birthplace (POB SRB). We find that both the total and the wife’s housework time increase when the husband is from a province with higher sex ratio at birth, whereas the husband’s housework time is unaffected by the couple’s POB SRB. We explore potential mechanisms, including human capital accumulation, preference for household production, and selection in the marriage market. Findings suggest that differences in husbands’ preferences for wives’ household work seem to be an important channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Hwang, Jisoo & Lee, Chulhee & Lee, Esther, 2019. "Gender norms and housework time allocation among dual-earner couples," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 102-116.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:57:y:2019:i:c:p:102-116
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2019.01.007
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    4. Garcia-Brazales, Javier, 2022. "Unlearning Traditionalism: The Long-Run Effects of Schools on Gender Attitudes," EconStor Preprints 232502, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, revised 2022.
    5. Chen, Yunsi & Hu, Dezhuang, 2021. "Gender norms and marriage satisfaction: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    6. Lee Kyeongah, 2022. "The gender wage gap: evidence from South Korea," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-36, January.
    7. Min-Su Chung & Keunjae Lee, 2022. "Hypergamy Among South Korean Women and Its Implications for the Marriage Rate," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(3), pages 929-951, June.
    8. Taehyun Ahn, 2022. "Workweek reduction and women's job turnover: Evidence from labor legislation in South Korea," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(4), pages 1607-1625, October.
    9. Zhang, Mingxue & Wang, Yue & Hou, Lingling, 2024. "Gender norms and the child penalty in China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 277-291.
    10. Hara, Hiromi & Rodríguez-Planas, Núria, 2021. "Long-Term Consequences of Teaching Gender Roles: Evidence from Desegregating Industrial Arts and Home Economics in Japan," IZA Discussion Papers 14611, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Household work; Time use; Gender norms; Sex ratio at birth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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