Amplifying inequalities: Gendered perceptions of work flexibility and the division of household labor during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, mothers have taken on more of the responsibility for childcare (including remote schooling) and housework. How did dual-income couples negotiate domestic labor during the pandemic in ways that ended up with women taking on a larger role? Based on in-depth interviews with 33 parents, we found that men's jobs were often discussed as being more demanding, particularly in their need for protected time, or requiring rigid time commitments, while women's work was considered more flexible and able to accommodate childcare needs. We argue that gendered perceptions about the flexibility of paid work shaped couple's negotiations over the division of labor. While many interviewees considered men's jobs as “simply more demanding,” we propose that this is a gendered perception that reflects entrenched cultural norms that associate masculinity with paid work and thus men's paid work is prioritized in many families.