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Who Helps with Homework? Parenting Inequality and Relationship Quality Among Employed Mothers and Fathers

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  • Scott Schieman

    (University of Toronto)

  • Leah Ruppanner

    (University of Melbourne)

  • Melissa A. Milkie

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between parenting inequalities and feelings of relationship quality, and whether those patterns differed for women and men. Using data from the nationally representative 2011 Canadian Work, Stress, and Health Survey (N = 1427), we documented the relevance of perceived unfairness of the division of parenting and the ways that employment status and work hour preferences (“mismatch”) modify those relationships. We found that mothers in dual-earner households experience greater parenting inequalities than do similarly-situated fathers, net of housework inequalities. The negative association between parenting inequality and relationship quality was stronger among mothers—but that was due to perceived unfairness in the division of parenting tasks. We also observed that the detrimental effect of parenting inequality was stronger for mothers who worked part-time—but that was because of work hours mismatch: they tended to prefer to work longer hours. Our results contribute to the gendered nature of the division of parenting labor and its intersection with work hours and preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Schieman & Leah Ruppanner & Melissa A. Milkie, 2018. "Who Helps with Homework? Parenting Inequality and Relationship Quality Among Employed Mothers and Fathers," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 49-65, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jfamec:v:39:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s10834-017-9545-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10834-017-9545-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kaylene J. Fellows & Hsin-Yao Chiu & E. Jeffrey Hill & Alan J. Hawkins, 2016. "Work–Family Conflict and Couple Relationship Quality: A Meta-analytic Study," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 509-518, December.
    2. Christopher Winship & Larry Radbill, 1994. "Sampling Weights and Regression Analysis," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 23(2), pages 230-257, November.
    3. Scott Schieman & Marisa Young, 2011. "Economic Hardship and Family-to-Work Conflict: The Importance of Gender and Work Conditions," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 46-61, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Heather H. Kelley & Ashley B. LeBaron & E. Jeffrey Hill, 2021. "Family Matters: Decade Review from Journal of Family and Economic Issues," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 20-33, July.
    2. Mirian Agus & Luisa Puddu & Rosalba Raffagnino, 2021. "Exploring the Similarity of Partners’ Love Styles and Their Relationships With Marital Satisfaction: A Dyadic Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, October.
    3. Lei Chai & Scott Schieman, 2023. "What Happens at Home Does Not Stay at Home: Family-to-Work Conflict and the Link Between Relationship Strains and Quality," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 175-192, March.
    4. Daniel L. Carlson & Richard J. Petts, 2022. "US Parents’ Domestic Labor During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(6), pages 2393-2418, December.

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