Rethinking Specialization and the Sexual Division of Labor in the 21st Century

Author(s):

Peter Siminski, Rhiannon Yetsenga

Date of publication: June 2020

Working paper number: 04

Abstract:

We show that comparative advantage plays little or no role in explaining the sexual division of labor. Instead, gender norms are the likely explanation. Using direct measures of within-couple specialization, we find that absolute advantage in market work has little (no) role in the time allocations of heterosexual (same-sex) couples. Sex-based specialization is much greater. We then test the predictions of a formal Beckerian model of comparative advantage. A woman would need to be 109 times more productive in market work than her male partner before reaching expected parity in domestic work, and this is likely biased downwards.

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Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.