Household management and the gendered division of unpaid work in dual-earner couples: theoretical and methodological insights
Keywords:
dual-earner couples, gender roles, household management, unpaid workAbstract
This paper explores the theoretical and methodological foundations of household management in the context of unpaid work, focusing specifically on dual-earner couples. Unpaid work, including household chores, childcare, and eldercare, represents a critical yet often invisible component of both economic and social life. Despite its importance, the management and division of unpaid work have received limited scholarly attention, particularly in countries like Slovakia. This paper provides a review of key theoretical approaches and international empirical research, highlighting how gender roles and negotiation processes shape the distribution of unpaid labor. While the article does not analyze gender inequalities as its primary focus, it acknowledges the gendered nature of household management practices and their potential implications for work-life balance and well-being. The paper argues for the integration of management perspectives into unpaid work studies, emphasizing the need to understand households not only as sites of consumption but also as units of organization and coordination. Finally, it outlines directions for future research, calling for context-specific empirical studies to better capture the unique features of dual-earner households in Slovakia and similar socio-economic environments. The findings have implications for public policy, gender equality initiatives, and the well-being of individuals within dual-income families.
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