The Equality Authority’s new report shows that Swedish men to a greater extent take on jobs that are performed occasionally, such as installing new technology or painting the walls, while women take care of the daily work. A 2021 survey shows that women spend an average of two hours and 40 minutes per day on routine housework, while men spend one hour and 53 minutes.
According to the report, women are expected to handle both paid and unpaid work, which can affect women’s economic independence, and their opportunities for self-realization and community participation. Stockholmer Elif Ayhan recognizes that.
– There is so much ground service that is unpaid. So much is expected of the woman, says Elif Ayhan.
Even younger women work more
Women also give more care to their own children. Mothers babysit more, and are on parental leave longer. When parents separate, it is also to a greater extent the mothers who receive primary custody of the children. Women also take care of elderly, sick or disabled relatives more than men do.
A consequence of this is that women can devote less time to gainful work, and that they therefore have less disposable income. Women’s health is also negatively affected by so-called “double work”.
That women work more in the home is therefore not something that belongs to the past. The report shows that even women in younger generations are allowed to take on more chores.
– We are not that young, but we are surprised that our children are still in the same roles, says the father and husband Per Mortensen.
To solve the problem
To remedy the problem and increase gender equality in the home, the report proposes, among other things, to introduce a new equality bonus, which can increase the incentives for parents to share the parental allowance equally.
Increasing gender equality in one’s own home is not always easy. Siblings Astrid and Harald Regild think it’s unfair if someone works in the home and someone else doesn’t.
– Maybe you can divide it up, as our parents have done, says Astrid Regild.
– Yes, maybe every other week mother, every other father, and never the children, says Harald Regild.