A new study has found that a surprising number of same-sex couples employ traditional gender stereotypes when dividing up household chores.
The study, titled “Making Money, Doing Gender, or Being Essentialist? Partner Characteristics and Americans’ Attitudes Toward Housework,” was conducted by Indiana University and surveyed over 1,000 people. Researchers learned that gender stereotypes play a large part in how same-sex couples determine who does what around the house.
Related: WATCH: Fierce Toddler Calls Out Gender Stereotypes In “Riley On Marketing”
Respondents were given information about either a heterosexual or same-sex couple, including each person’s occupation and income level, as well as their hobbies and interests. They were then asked to assign tasks between each of the same-sex partners.
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Chores traditionally associated with females (i.e. cooking, cleaning, caring for the kids, etc.) were generally given to the more “feminine” partner, while traditionally male tasks (i.e. taking out the trash, car maintenance, and other DIY household tasks), were typically assigned to the more “masculine” partner.
“People relied on information about gender to guide their beliefs about what people should be doing,” said sociologist Natasha Quadlin, of Indiana University. “Surprisingly, that theme extended to same-sex couples.”
Related: Here’s A Lesson In “Straight-Acting” That Nails What’s Wrong With Rigid Gender Roles
According to the study, 66 percent of respondents believed the more feminine partner should be in charge of grocery shopping; 61 percent believed that partner should also cook; and 58 percent said they should clean the house and do the laundry.
Additionally, 62 percent of respondents said they expected the more feminine partner to look after the kids, and 60 percent said the more feminine spouse ought to be in charge of meeting the children’s emotional demands, as well.
On the flip side of all that, 67 percent of respondents said they believed the more masculine partner should be in charge of car maintenance and all outdoor chores.
“Even in same-sex couples where there are not sex differences between partners,” Quadlin said, “people use gender differences as a way to approximate sex differences.”
Related: Do Gay Men Have A Problem With Gender Roles? “I’m A Masc, Dom Top Who Needs To Be Held”
crowebobby
If it works for you…
Tobi
“There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years the dirt doesn’t get any worse.”
Quentin Crisp
Paco
The study certainly backs up my own experiences with the relationships of friends and my own through the years. I do have to wonder if, in the case of coupled gay men, it is more about one of the males assuming the alpha role, than it is about emulating hetero gender roles.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
It’s all very well being fabulously gender-liberated carrying a purse and shit…maybe pick up a power tool too and help eradicate the stereotypes and your role in celebrating and promoting them. And while we’re at it please see someone about your sexual disgust at the thought of being with anything other than a “total top” because tewwww so emasculating!
MikeE
Your title is COMPLETELY misleading. That is NOT what the study shows at all.
The “study” (a VERY poorly constructed one at that) gave choices of gender role to OTHER people and asked them to imagine gay and lesbian couples and assign roles.
That has absolutely NOTHING to do with gay/lesbian couples and any potential gender stereotypes.
It however has EVERYTHING to do with stereotypes of the bigots who put the “study” together and the people they used as respondents (none of which were gay or lesbian).
bbg372
“A new study has found that a surprising number of same-sex couples employ traditional gender stereotypes when dividing up household chores.”
The study says no such thing. The respondents were not all gay, let alone in same-sex marriages. It literally tells us nothing about the attitudes of gay people in general, or gay spouses in particular. What it does tell us is what a representative sample of Americans believes about how gay spouses should divide housework. If anything, it reveals that straight people cannot conceive of any system outside of their own, and that they believe gay marriages should mirror the same worn, confining gender roles as straight marriages.
Billy Budd
Complete and utter bull.
Dave Downunder
Well that waswaste of five minutes of my time.
Dave Downunder
*was a waste
Mack
Guess Queerty is censoring comments made by me now for whatever reason.
Chris2016
“Patriarchy Is Alive And Well For Many Same-Sex Couples”
If you live in the Western world, patriarchy isn’t alive and well ANYWHERE. You’re deluding yourself if you think otherwise; and also not doing any favors to the people who actually live under patriarchy.
Suncoaster
According to the above comments, the study is methodologically flawed and/or mis-reported. My thought was that it did not match my partnership, where we do the things we like to do or that we are best at, a blend of what are stereotypical male and female roles.
Many people have long said that an LGBT couple expands possible realities beyond straight conservative monogamy.
michael
My partner cleans the house and does the laundry on Saturday morning while I clean the bathroom. We grocery shop together on Sunday afternoon. I was a waiter for many years, so I do most of the cooking, because I enjoy it and am good at it. We are both tops, but sometimes flip to please each other. He is alpha with our movie choices. I am alpha with our music choices. Works for us.
Brian
Gender roles are based on common sense. They aren’t evil patriarchy.
nate_caetano
This study is offensive and relies heavily on gender binary constructs. The key lies in this- “Respondents were given information about either a heterosexual or same-sex couple, including each person’s occupation and income level, as well as their hobbies and interests. They were then asked to assign tasks between each of the same-sex partners.” It says nothing about how these narratives were written! Were they slanted towards a gender binary? Were they constructed to suggest a certain behavior is related to a certain gender? My husband and I reject the gender binary (yes I realize this is ironic b/c I call him my husband). We divvy up chores based on strengths and interest. He enjoys cooking, so he cooks. I like a tidy house, so I clean. Nowhere in this is suggest gendered expectations.
Stilinski26
Yawn another example of First world problems!
Scribe38
Yeah not buying it. It’s the partner more suited for the task that does the task in my house. Hubby fixes the cars, cleans the house, and let me climb on top of him. I do the shopping, cooking, breadwinner, and in charge of protecting our home. Together we do the yard, grow veggies, and major home repairs (put on our own roof and finished the basement).
jag4313
I wish my life was like this article. I do 98% of all housework. My partner works roughly 70 hours a week and can’t even fix a bowl of cereal without messing it up. I cook, I clean, I do laundry, I take care of any repair work around the house, mow (actually I pay a lawn service that he doesn’t know about), and I take care of the dogs, all while having a regular 40 hour work week. His one job is to water the plants.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
I’m currently residing in a midden
Bauhaus
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID:
Clean that dump.
viveutvivas
We do so little housework that it doesn’t even apply. Life is too short to spend scrubbing and vacuuming stuff. As for laundry and dishes, the machines do it.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Not I, Mr. @Bauhaus. Not my Beckett-Inspired Art installation. You of all people..
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
@Bauhaus, it’s all very well for you with your clutter free minimalism
Bauhaus
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID:
As long as it smells good, a little mess in life is nice.
Chris
Well, if you start off with binary choices, don’t be surprised if your results are binary. I thought that a writer for an outlet using the term Queer in its masthead would understand this.