Gender Inequality in the Life Course: The Effect of Parenthood in the Division of Unpaid Work

Marc Ajenjo Cosp, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Núria García Saladrigas, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Joan Pau Jordà, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

The aim of this paper is to test if younger generations are more egalitarian or if more similar behavior among younger generations is due to life cycle factors. Data used in the analysis are from the Spanish time use surveys carried out in 2002-2003 and 2009-2010 and we measure the level of equality within the couple using differences in time devoted to unpaid work (housework and caregiving) between the spouses. We analyze gender differences in time devoted to unpaid work the two surveys for generations born between 1963 and 1982. We focus on changes observed following a transition from 0 to 1 child and from 1 child to 2 children. Preliminary results show that there is greater difference in time devoted to unpaid work with the arrival of a newborn and lower incidence of cohorts. Life cycle factors are more important than generations.