Women and men share uneven workloads at home, even when the woman earns more money for their family

Knowledge at Wharton

Episode Description

The Wharton School Professor Corinne Low explains the divide in household labor shared between households with two caretakers of different genders in this clip from the Ripple Effect podcast.

ABOUT THE EPISODE Can women really “have it all”? Wharton professor Corinne Low explains that while women attain the same professional achievements as men, they still shoulder most housework and childcare—creating an unsustainable time squeeze. With modern parenting demanding more involvement than ever, unequal domestic roles leave many women exhausted and constrained. Low shows that progress depends on firms setting real boundaries, and on men increasing their home responsibilities. The data reveals how redefining success can help women, families, and workplaces thrive.

ABOUT THE PODCAST This Week in Business features interviews with Wharton faculty about the latest news, fascinating trends, and issues impacting both consumers and the business world. Episodes are recorded at the Wharton School and published twice per week.

#WorkLifeBalance #WorkingMothers #GenderEquality #WomenAtWork #CareerAndFamily ----- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is committed to sharing its intellectual capital through Knowledge at Wharton, the school’s online business analysis journal.

Launched in 1999, Knowledge at Wharton offers free access to:

- Articles, podcasts, and videos highlighting Wharton faculty research and analysis of current business trends - Interviews with book authors from Wharton School Press - In-depth series of curated content like Wharton Executive Education’s Nano Tools for Leaders - A searchable database of more than 10,000 articles covering all aspects of business - A weekly newsletter that delivers Knowledge at Wharton insights directly to your inbox

Visit the Knowledge at Wharton homepage: https://whr.tn/3qUpSBE Subscribe to the Knowledge at Wharton YouTube channel: https://whr.tn/3DEAgAU

Brief Summary

Gender roles in households lag behind workplace equality, with women still doing more domestic work despite being primary earners.

Key points

  • The Burden of Breadwinning. Women who are primary breadwinners still do almost twice as much household work as their male partners.
  • Changing Parenting Dynamics. Moms today are significantly more involved with their children compared to previous generations.
  • Empowerment Through Understanding. Understanding the costs of parenting can lead to more fulfilling life choices.

Ask about Knowledge at Wharton

Related episodes