How do parents share childcare that interferes with paid work? Work arrangements, flexible working, and childcare

Abstract

Objective: this study examines how mothers and fathers divide childcare tasks that interfere with paid work and whether there
is an association with patterns of work and access to work flexibility.

Background: childcare encompasses a range of diverse tasks, yet is persistently gendered, with women doing more than men, regardless of work arrangements. Flexible working can exacerbate childcare inequalities among working couples, but less is known about how flexible working is associated with the gender division of childcare tasks that directly interfere with the workday.

Method: we used the UK Generations and Gender Survey (2022–23), a stratified national probability sample, to study heterosexual couples with children under the age of 12 (n=1152). Using logistic regression, we analyze the gender division of specific childcare tasks and associations with work arrangements (i.e., dual earner, male/female breadwinner, and less than full-time work) and work flexibility (i.e., doing work from home and access to flexible hours).

Results: childcare tasks that interfere with the workday (i.e., staying home with ill children, getting children dressed, dropping children off at school or childcare) are particularly gendered. Fathers working from home or having access to flexible hours were associated with a higher likelihood of equally sharing these tasks; the same relationship was not found for mothers.

Conclusion: fathers' access to and use of flexible working may help to address one persistent form of gender inequality.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Bernice Kuang: orcid.org/0000-0002-9846-449X

ORCID for Brienna Perelli-Harris: orcid.org/0000-0001-8234-4007

ORCID for Ann Berrington: orcid.org/0000-0002-1683-6668

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