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COVID-19, Gender Housework Division and Municipality Size in Spain

Author

Listed:
  • Rosa Roig

    (GIPEyOP, Department of Applied Economics, Universitat de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Cristina Aybar

    (GIPEyOP, Department of Applied Economics, Universitat de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Jose M. Pavía

    (GIPEyOP, Department of Applied Economics, Universitat de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

The COVID-19 health crisis brought with it an increase in the workload on family members due to the restriction of services and the suspension of formal and informal care networks. Numerous studies have analyzed how home confinement have affected different gender gaps, including the gender gap related to chores within the home. This research aims to contribute to the existing literature from the perspective of gender geography by introducing the variable municipality size in the analyses. Our research in the case of Spain shows the COVID-19 health crisis to have had a significant impact on gender gaps, albeit to varying degrees. Women, especially those living in small municipalities, experienced a widening of the gap related to care and domestic workload during confinement. The study of the distribution of the more burdensome chores between genders shows an even more imbalanced scenario to the detriment of women. However, following the end of confinement, the situation improved. Although the imbalance against women remains, the gap with respect to the pre-pandemic situation has been reduced.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosa Roig & Cristina Aybar & Jose M. Pavía, 2022. "COVID-19, Gender Housework Division and Municipality Size in Spain," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:11:y:2022:i:2:p:37-:d:729294
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Jérôme Adda & Christian Dustmann & Katrien Stevens, 2017. "The Career Costs of Children," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 125(2), pages 293-337.
    3. Adams-Prassl, Abi & Boneva, Teodora & Golin, Marta & Rauh, Christopher, 2020. "Inequality in the impact of the coronavirus shock: Evidence from real time surveys," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
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