Sex-Role Expectations Associated with Specific Household Tasks: Perceived Age and Employment Differences

Although sex and age appropriate behavior has been examined, little attention has been given to expectations for the redistribution of household tasks. A questionnaire administered to unmarried college students provides data on expectations for 10 household tasks in three age and employment situations and projections for one's own marriage. Neither age nor work status alone was the basis for the ascription of norms involving domestic tasks. But both youth and dual-career marriage were associated with more shared activities. Future research should focus on the relationship between general attitudes toward sex-role behavior and the redistribution of household tasks.