Household Size and the Gender Division of Housework in Latin America

Anna Martinez Mendiola, Center for Demographic Studies (Barcelona)
Joan GARCIA-ROMAN, Centre for Demographic Studies

This study examines the relationship between household size and time spent on housework tasks in Latin American countries, with a particular focus on gender differences. Using data from time-use surveys conducted since 2009, the study explores how the distribution of housework varies by household composition and individual characteristics such as employment status, education, and gender attitudes. Despite a reduction in the gender gap in housework over the past decades, significant disparities persist, with women generally spending more time on housework than men across all household sizes. The analysis reveals that, as household size increases, women’s housework time tends to rise until it reaches three to four members, after which it stabilizes or decreases slightly. In contrast, men’s housework time decreases slightly between one- and two-member households and remains relatively flat with additional members. These trends are consistent across different countries, despite variations in cultural and socioeconomic contexts. The study employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) models to control for various factors, confirming the observed patterns in the data. By focusing on the diverse household structures and persistent gender inequalities in Latin America, this research provides valuable insights into the distribution of domestic labor and its implications for gender equality.

Keywords: Families, Unions and Households, Gender Dynamics, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

See extended abstract.