The division of labour in dual-earner couples : perception of equity and marital satisfaction among married Maltese women

Abstract

Household chores, home maintenance and childcare are the practical concerns around which dual-earner couples' lives revolve on a daily basis. The main objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between perception of housework equity and marital satisfaction among women in dual-earner marriages. Of particular interest in the study was whether Maltese women are still primarily responsible for housework and childcare, even when working the same paid work hours as their husbands. Data was gathered from 114 women living in dual-earner households. Participants answered a self-administered questiom1aire consisting of questions on demographic data, perception of housework equity and marital satisfaction. A substantial and significant positive relationship between housework equity perception and marital satisfaction was found. The results indicate that Maltese employed women still perform most of the housework and in general feel under benefited in the sharing of household labour with their husbands. The average participant reported a level of marital satisfaction which was above the average. Dual-worker spouses could be gradually becoming keen on achieving a relationship based on equality, however, a closer scrutiny uncovers that housework inequality is an unresolved matter which can be the subject of marital satisfaction decline.