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Gendered perceptions of fairness in housework and shared expenses: Implications for relationship satisfaction and sex frequency

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  • Brian Joseph Gillespie
  • Gretchen Peterson
  • Janet Lever

Abstract

There is a demonstrated relationship between couples’ division of household chores—and, to a lesser extent, the division of shared expenses—and their relationship quality. Less is known, however, about whether and how individuals’ perceived fairness of these arrangements is associated with couples’ relationships in different ways. Using a gendered equity framework, and drawing on 10,236 responses collected via an online national news website, this study examines how equity evaluations of housework and shared expenses are related to relationship satisfaction and sex frequency among different-gender household partners. Consistent with previous findings, the results indicate that evaluations of unfairness to oneself are a stronger predictor of relationship quality than perceived unfairness to one’s partner. Additionally, fairness evaluations over shared expenses are a stronger predictor of relationship quality than perceived equity in housework. Incorporating notions about traditional gender norms and expectations into the justice framework, the results point to some variation in relationship outcomes based on men’s and women’s differential equity evaluations.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian Joseph Gillespie & Gretchen Peterson & Janet Lever, 2019. "Gendered perceptions of fairness in housework and shared expenses: Implications for relationship satisfaction and sex frequency," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0214204
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214204
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Janet Lever & David A. Frederick & Rosanna Hertz, 2015. "Who Pays for Dates? Following Versus Challenging Gender Norms," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(4), pages 21582440156, October.
    2. Breusch, T S & Pagan, A R, 1979. "A Simple Test for Heteroscedasticity and Random Coefficient Variation," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 47(5), pages 1287-1294, September.
    3. J. Ignacio Gimenez-Nadal & José Alberto Molina, 2016. "Commuting Time And Household Responsibilities: Evidence Using Propensity Score Matching," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(2), pages 332-359, March.
    4. Gary S. Becker, 1981. "A Treatise on the Family," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number beck81-1.
    5. Frances Goldscheider & Eva Bernhardt & Trude Lappegård, 2015. "The Gender Revolution: A Framework for Understanding Changing Family and Demographic Behavior," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 41(2), pages 207-239, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.

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