Differenze di genere e distribuzione del carico familiare nelle famiglie eterosessuali

LASIO, DIEGO

2011-01-01

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Abstract

Research on household labour in heterosexual families shows that it is still predominantly women who take more responsibility regarding household chores and child care. The belief that men and women are essentially different in what they are predisposed to and, therefore the roles they can assume goes on. Thus the distribution of household labour is undertaken on the basis of gender, as if this was a fixed aspect of identity, stemming from biological fact, and not susceptible to change due to the various historical, social and cultural conditions imposed. After analyzing both the socio-cultural and biological approach, the present paper will examine the principle perspectives, in order to give explanation for inequities in distribution of family labour. Fully understanding the reasons for the strong imbalance between men and women regarding distribution is important when further considering the effects of this said unfairness on the wellbeing of each partner and their marital quality.