In a study that hardly breaks new ground, researchers have found that fathers are more likely to take it easy on their days off, while mothers are often busy with household chores and caring for the children. The New Parents Project, conducted by Ohio State University, examined the time management of 52 couples—most of whom were well-educated, white, dual-income households from the Columbus area—who had recently welcomed their first child.
The findings revealed that mothers managed to carve out only about 46 to 49 minutes for relaxation during their days off, whereas fathers enjoyed a more leisurely 101 minutes while their partners handled the kids or household tasks. Shocking, right?
Participants were asked to maintain “time diaries” for both workdays and non-workdays during the third trimester of pregnancy and three months postpartum. After the initial chuckles at the concept of a “non-workday,” the couples got down to the task at hand. The research indicated that while the division of housework and childcare was more equitable on workdays, women still took on a slightly heavier load.
On days off, fathers were found to be engaging in leisure activities for 47 minutes during their partner’s pregnancy and 101 minutes after the baby was born. It seems dads feel the need to recharge after contributing to household responsibilities during the pregnancy.
Interestingly, when fathers did take time off to care for the kids or handle chores, mothers were often there to assist. During these off days, fathers relaxed 46 percent of the time while mothers only managed to engage in leisure activities 16 percent of the time when the children were under their father’s care. One has to wonder if “staring blankly at the wall, contemplating life choices” qualifies as leisure.
Claire Anderson, the lead author of the study and an associate professor of human sciences at Ohio State University, expressed her frustration, stating, “Despite expectations for more egalitarian views on shared parenting duties, household responsibilities and childcare are still not equally divided.”
While it’s true that fathers today are more involved than they were half a century ago, a Pew Research study indicates that 48 percent of fathers believe they spend too little quality time with their children. Furthermore, 53% of Americans think mothers are better caregivers than fathers. This could be less about ability and more about the sheer amount of time mothers dedicate to these responsibilities.
Though this research is based on a small cohort of first-time parents, Anderson emphasizes the need for a deeper exploration into how dual-income families are dividing household and childcare tasks. This is especially important for couples who would be expected to have established a more balanced approach.
Of course, this doesn’t reflect all families, as many fathers do step up and share the load equally with their partners. However, this study indicates there’s still a significant gap that needs addressing.
For more insights into parenting and family dynamics, including topics like artificial insemination, check out our post on home insemination kits. For an excellent resource on the IVF process, you can visit Parents.com. To further understand family roles, visit Modern Family Blog.
In summary, the study highlights the ongoing imbalance in parenting responsibilities, particularly in dual-income households. While fathers are increasingly taking an interest in childcare, mothers still carry a heavier burden, especially during days off.