The Search for the Invisible 8 Hours

Abstract

This paper investigates to what extent, and how, the use of time differs between men and women in a society and an age-group in which the gender gap in labour force participation is rapidly closing. It is found that the gender differences come about primarily through the division of labour. However, this gendered division of work, which co-exists with a high labour market participation, does not lead to a double workload for women. Different mechanisms that are important in both limiting the total workload and maintaining the gendered division of labour are analysed.