THE DIVISION OF HOUSEWORK AMONG REMARRIED COUPLES

There are only a limited number of studies comparing housework among c ouples and individuals in different marital statuses, and the focus of attention has tended to be on married compared to cohabiting couples. This article focuses on differences between couples where one or more partner is remarried or recohabiting and those where both partners ar e in their first married or cohabiting relationships, using nationally representative survey data from Britain. It is shown in multivariate analysis that women in their second-plus partnerships contribute less in terms of their proportion of total housework time than women in the ir first partnerships. However, there is no effect for the man's numbe r of previous partnerships or for current marital/cohabiting status. I t is argued that the significant issue is interaction and negotiation with a subsequent partner in the light of experience gained from the b reakdown of one or more previous married/cohabiting relationships.