Revisiting the gendered paid and unpaid task division patterns among couples in Switzerland and beyond

In contemporary European society, the challenge of reconciling professional and personal commitments within dual-earner relationships is multifaceted. Despite widespread advocacy of egalitarian principles, inequalities in the division of paid and unpaid labor persists within many couples, epitomizing a contemporary phenomenon known as the “neo-traditional” division of labor. Here, women bear the brunt of unpaid labor while men prioritize paid employment, perpetuating gender inequalities in career advancement. These challenges are equally salient in Swiss society today. Many families, particularly women, are struggling to effectively navigate the demands of paid and unpaid work amidst profound demographic and social changes, including the reversal of the gender gap in education and the emergence of more egalitarian role attitudes. However, the persistence of the gendered divisions of paid and unpaid labor hinders the realization of a gender-balanced workforce. These patterns serve to constrain women’s opportunities for career advancement, thereby perpetuating inequalities in income and authority. In this context and despite significant research and discourse surrounding the challenges of balancing paid and unpaid work, several questions remain unanswered.

The project uses longitudinal household data from the Swiss Household Panel, as well as administrative and comparative sources, to examine the division of labor among Swiss couples. By addressing four key research objectives, we aim to fill identified research gaps and provide valuable insights. More specifically, the primary objective of this project is to deepen our understanding of the enduring and complex nature of gendered division of paid and unpaid tasks among couples. First, we will identify different types of task division arrangements within couples and seek to elucidate the factors that underpin these arrangements. Second, we will investigate the long-term consequences associated with these different types of task division, considering the intersectionality of gender, migration status, socio-economic background, and other relevant factors. This analysis will shed light on whether these consequences vary across demographic groups. Next, we will explore the extent to which changes in couple arrangements can be attributed to critical life events, technological innovations, or normative shifts. By understanding the drivers of change, we can gain insight into the factors that shape the dynamics of task division over time. Finally, we will assess the role of institutional and policy contexts in shaping task division arrangements within couples. This will include examining the influence of legal frameworks, social norms, and support structures on patterns of task division and their implications for gender equality and social inclusion. Various advanced analytical methos suitable for longitudinal data will be employed to achieve the respective objectives. Sequence analysis, for example, will be used to elucidate typical career trajectories and professional arrangements of partners over time. Fixed-effects logistic and linear models will be used to study transitions.