Men versus women : feelings towards the gender division in household chores

Authors

Cowap, Patrice

Issue Date

2012

Degree

BA (Hons) in Social Science

Publisher

Dublin Business School

Rights

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Abstract

The aim of this research project is to find out how men and women feel about the divide in the household work. A qualitative study was carried out with semi structured interviews conducted with six couples who were living together. A thematic analysis was used to investigate the data that emerged from the interviews. Four themes emerged from the data collected. 1) Gender, the work in the home is still gendered. Women felt that they wanted their partners to do more of the women’s work but still keep doing the men’s work. 2) Communication or lack of caused stress and arguments between the couples interviewed. 3) Feelings this is the theme that answers the research question by detailing how the men and women felt by the divide in the household work 4) Changes there is currently a change taking place within the households and this is due to the current economic recession in Ireland. Author keywords: upaid work, division of labour, gender