Girls shoulder more domestic tasks, study finds

Girls perform more household chores than boys, including tasks such as helping in the kitchen, taking care of laundry, or tidying their room, according to a study published in the journal Population and Societies.

The findings indicate a significant gender disparity in household responsibilities. Almost all children surveyed reported performing certain tasks daily, such as setting or clearing the table, taking care of animals, tidying their room, helping in the kitchen, folding or hanging laundry, and taking out the trash, according to Femme Actuelle.

However, a notable difference emerges in specific tasks. France Info notes that 70% of young girls help with folding laundry compared to 50% of boys. This gendered distribution of tasks among children reflects that observed among adults.

The study also explores the influence of social background on children's participation in household chores. According to Liberation, the results vary according to gender and social background. On average, a girl from working-class or farming families participates in about 5.8 household tasks proposed by the survey, compared to 5.4 for girls of executives. Femme Actuelle reports that the participation of girls in household chores is subject to their family's socio-professional category, while the participation of boys does not vary according to their social background.

Family dynamics play a crucial role in the distribution of chores. BFMTV highlights that children without siblings participate less in household chores than those with brothers and sisters. In nearly one-third of families with three or more children, both girls and boys regularly tidy their room, compared to less than 20% of families with a single child. Additionally, the study's accompanying statement indicates that "contrary to what one might think, 'solo' parents do not ask their children for help more than parents living as a couple," as reported by Liberation.

"It's a mirror of what we observe among parents, where indoor and routine tasks are mostly done by women," explained Anne Solaz, a researcher involved in the study, offers insights into these findings, according to Liberation. "Family characteristics alone cannot explain the disparities observed in households," she added, saying that "gendered representations in society" play an essential role.

Possible explanations for these disparities include the reproduction of traditional societal models. "We don't really know where it comes from," Solaz said.

The study also examines the role of parental involvement in children's participation in household chores. Femme Actuelle notes that when fathers are involved in household chores, children are less involved, regardless of gender. Moreover, the mother's level of education plays a role: the gaps between girls and boys are greater for mothers without diplomas.

Real-life experiences from children illustrate these findings. "We made a schedule where we divided the tasks because otherwise, it was me who did everything," said Arabelle, a 14-year-old student in Paris. Three years ago, Arabelle felt she was doing more chores than her younger brother. Since then, they have set up a schedule that has made the sharing of chores "more equitable."

Alice, a 12-year-old girl living in Gard with her parents, brother, and two sisters, shared her perspective with 20 Minuten. "It's normal to help your parents do the household chores because there are a lot of things to do," she said.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq