Religious affiliation and the division of housework over the life course

Abstract

A growing body of research examines changes in the division of housework over the life course, yet the influence of religion remains underexplored. Using couple dyad data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations (1988–2005) and a life course perspective, this study investigates how wives’ and husbands’ religious affiliations shape life course trajectories of the housework gender gap and individual housework time among different-sex couples in the U.S. Growth curve analyses reveal religious differences in these trajectories. Among couples where either spouse is Mormon or the wife is Catholic, the housework gender gap declined over the life course, whereas it remained stable among Protestant (mainline or evangelical), Jewish, other religious, and nonreligious couples. These declines appear to be driven by reductions in wives’ housework time over the life course among Mormon couples and increases in husbands’ housework contributions over time among couples with Catholic wives. Notably, religious disparities in the housework gender gap followed distinct patterns across life stages: the initially larger gender gap among Mormon couples and couples with Catholic wives in early life converged in midlife and became smaller than in some groups in later life. This study advances research on gender inequality in housework by highlighting the role of religious affiliation over the life course. The findings inform targeted policy interventions to support women disproportionately affected by excessive housework burdens in early life.