Women did more housework during COVID-19 quarantine?

During a coronavirus quarantine, women did more chores around the house even if they worked equally with men, researchers from Ohio State University have found. The study was published in the journal Personnel Psychology.

The study was based on a survey of 223 pairs of men and women from China and South Korea in which both partners worked. Participants were asked about the number of non-work tasks they performed while working from home.

It turned out that men tended to do less housework. Also, having a husband at home during work hours did not relieve women of the burden of home care at all.

In both countries, women reported experiencing increased feelings of guilt about not being able to cope with work and household chores. Among men, increased guilt was found only in South Korea.

The researchers also found that on days when the man had a flexible work schedule, the woman was able to do more of her professional work. Meanwhile, if the woman had a rigid work schedule, the man did more chores around the house.

The authors of the study noted that companies should be aware of the challenges that arise as the lines between work and family life become increasingly blurred.

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