PREDICTORS OF CONFLICT OVER THE HOUSEHOLD DIVISION-OF-LABOR AMONG WOMEN EMPLOYED FULL-TIME

This empirical study examined predictors of conflict over the househol d division of labor among a group of 319 middle class, less traditiona l married women in order to examine the degree to which equity factors predicted conflict. Forty of the women were either African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian. An analysis of covariance indicat ed that there were no differences by race/ethnicity. The study explore d the following: (1) the degree to which equity factors predict confli cts over household label; (2) which equity factors best account for co nflict (3) the degree to which particular equity factors mediate the r elationship of conflict with other variables, (4) whether equity facto rs are more compelling in predicting conflicts than practical or statu s variables, and (5) whether women's perceptions of the reasons for co nflict put more emphasis on equity than on other issues. Results indic ated that while both equity and practical factors predicted conflict, equity factors were more statistically significant. The best overall m odel of conflict suggested that it was predicted by lower satisfaction with the division of labor (which, in rum, was contingent upon time d ifferentials between spouses and the time a womans' spouse spent on tr aditional women's tasks), a larger number of household members, a woma n's younger age, and performing a greater number of overall household tasks Equity is important to such women and constitutes a basis for ma king arguments about justice. However these employed women devote twel ve hours more per week to household labor than their partners and are relatively satisfied with the division. Chaeftz's theory of gender equ ity identifies where this sample of employed women may be located in t he process of change.