A new study from the University of Alberta shows that women continue to take on most household chores even after decades of marriage. The research, which tracked 520 people (split evenly between men and women) over 25 years, found that gaps in housework that exist early in relationships rarely close.
The study reveals that women do more domestic work than men from as early as age 25, and this imbalance stays the same into middle age. Women’s workloads also grow during the child-rearing years, while men’s contributions often shrink.
The research, based on data from the Edmonton Transitions Study that began in 1985, looked at tasks like cooking, cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping. Participants reported their housework habits at ages 25, 32, 43, and 50.
Patterns That Don’t Change
The findings show that once patterns are set, they rarely shift. Women consistently did the most work, with no tasks where men took over or shared the load equally. While there were minor changes—such as men doing a bit more kitchen cleaning or grocery shopping—women still shouldered most of the responsibility.
The gap widened during parenting years. At ages 32 and 43, women’s workloads grew, while men contributed less. By age 50, as children moved out, the gap narrowed slightly, but the imbalance remained.
Why It Happens
The study supports theories that having children reinforces traditional gender roles. Maternity leave policies, which often favor women, may also play a role. However, the sheer increase in household demands during parenting years could mean that even if men step up, women still end up doing more.
Housework doesn’t happen in isolation. Work schedules, income, and the age of children all affect how couples split chores. Still, the researchers found that these patterns, once formed, tend to stick. Change doesn’t happen on its own.
For couples who want to balance chores, the researchers have clear advice: don’t wait for things to fix themselves. “If you’re happy with how things are, that’s great,” the authors say. “But if not, you need to make a plan with your partner to create a more equal division.”
The takeaway is simple: to avoid falling into old patterns, couples need to agree on how they’ll share responsibilities from the start. Otherwise, the burden is likely to fall, as it always has, on women.
