Family Matters: Splitting household tasks: Who does what?

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Release date: February 19, 2020

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Infographic: Family Matters: Splitting household tasks: Who does what? — Description: Family Matters: Splitting household tasks: Who does what?

Family Matters: Splitting household tasks: Who does what?

In 2017, the tasks of doing the dishes, grocery shopping and organizing the household’s social life were shared equally between men and women who were married or living in a common-law relationship.^{Note 1}

Doing the dishes^{Note 2} **50%**

Grocery shopping **49%**

Organizing the household’s social life **49%**

Tasks mostly done by women

Laundry **61%**

Meal preparation **56%**

Tasks mostly done by men

Outdoor work and repairs **78%**

The distribution of some household tasks depended on who was in the labour force.

**Meal preperation**

**26%** - **Equally** **shared** between spouses or partners when **men were the sole earners**.

**38%** - **Equally** **shared** between spouses or partners when **both were working**.^{Note 3}

**Laundry**

**64%** - Mostly done by **women** when men **were the sole earners**.

**55%** - Mostly done by **women** when **both spouses or partners were working**.

**Bookkeeping and bill payments**

**48%** - Mostly done by **men** when **they were the sole earners**.

**31%** - Mostly done by **men** when **both spouses or partners were working**.

**Source:** General Social Survey (Family), 2017.

Notes

Footnote 1.

The data cover persons aged 20 and older in Canada who were married or living common-law at the time of the survey. Respondents living in the same household with a spouse or partner of the opposite sex are considered. Given the nature of the analysis, which compares how household tasks are shared between genders, same-sex couples are not included in this study. According to this survey, persons in same-sex couples represent 0.7% of the population in Canada.

Return to note 1 referrer

Footnote 2.

The proportions represent the percentage of men and women who reported that a certain task was mostly done by one spouse or partner, or done equally by both. For example, 50% of Canadians reported that the task of doing the dishes was equally done by men and women.

Return to note 2 referrer

Footnote 3.

Employed or self-employed.

Return to note 3 referrer

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Date modified:: 2020-02-19

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Family Matters: Splitting household tasks: Who does what?

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Family Matters: Splitting household tasks: Who does what?