Housework still not equally shared

WOMEN are still much more likely than men to do the housework.

A study by the BVA survey institute, for International Women’s Day, shows that in 64 per cent of couples it is the woman who does the cleaning (compared to 32 per cent where it is shared equally and four per cent where it is the man).

The woman’s traditional childcare role is still in strong evidence, said the survey of domestic tasks: the figures were 62 per cent women, 36 per cent shared and two per cent men.

Shopping is the job most equitably shared: 44 per cent, 41 per cent and 15 per cent.

As for cooking, the figures were 64 per cent, 24 per cent and 12 per cent.

BVA said that the inequality was strongest in couples aged 65 or over, where, all categories combined, women do the domestic tasks in 66 per cent of cases.

All ages combined, women carry out the domestic tasks in 58 per cent of households, men in eight per cent and both in 33 per cent.

Equal sharing is slightly more likely than average among under-35s, at 37 per cent.

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