Housework Class Consequences

Abstract

Chapter 6 examines a key component of the book’s argument, namely whether there are patterns across the five housework classes (Ultra-traditional, Traditional, Transitional Husbands, Egalitarian, and Egalitarian High Workload) in other behavioral as well as attitudinal measures of power. In this chapter we investigate spousal preferences in their own and their spouse’s labor market hours as a measure of being able to enact power. We also examine reported conflict, disagreements, and intimate partner violence, all behaviors that reflect power dynamics in a couple. These findings provide important evidence for our argument that understanding housework dynamics can provide insights into other dynamics in couples and thus be a useful tool for practitioners working with families in crisis.