Parental influences on the gendered division of housework

Despite a recent emphasis on contextual explanations for the gendered divis ion of housework, early socialization may also be important. Data from a 31 -year panel study of white mothers and children are used to examine parenta l predictors of the division of household labor among the adult children. P arental influences are assessed when the children were ages 1 and 15; chara cteristics of the adult children are measured at ages 23 and 31. The effect s of the parents' division of housework and parents' education on children' s division of housework are considered, as well as the effects of the mothe r's gender-role attitudes and employment. The parental division of labor me asured when the sons were very young has a positive effect on the sons' lat er participation in routine housework, while the mother's employment during their daughters' early years is a more important predictor of the allocati on of housework among the daughters. Parental influences are transmitted pa rtially through the children's gender-role attitudes, but there is also evi dence of enduring direct effects of parental characteristics on children's housework allocation, especially for men.