Domestic Labour and Income Inequality

Abstract

In most industrial countries women earn less in employment than men. This paper investigates the reasons for this fact. Specifically it considers in detail the relationship between domestic labour and gender inequalities in income. Using evidence from Australia the paper explores the impact on earnings of both responsibility for domestic labour and time spent on domestic labour. Earlier research suggested that responsibility for domestic labour is a greater constraint on women's position in paid labour than the actual time spent on it. The paper also seeks to discover whether the relationship between the housework and paid labour is qualitatively and quantitatively different for men and women. Using regression analysis the paper provides empirical evidence about these relations and argues that gender inequities in wages are based, at least in part, on the structure of the household system. Policies aimed at reducing the male-female wage gap will need to take account of this.