In families where both parents work full-time, mothers still take on a greater share of household and parenting tasks, according to new data from Pew Research Center. The findings underscore persistent gender disparities even as dual-income households become more common.
Nearly 52% of different-sex couples with children under 18 now have two full-time working parents, up from 46% a decade ago and 31% in 1975. That shift has not erased traditional divisions of labor, with mothers reporting they do more of the load at home.
The study reveals that working parents often struggle to balance job demands with family needs. Many cite flexible work arrangements and employer benefits as critical, but these are not widely accessible, Pew notes. Mothers, in particular, carry a disproportionate "mental load" of managing family logistics alongside work obligations.
This imbalance has real consequences: working parents frequently feel they cannot give 100% effort at home or at work, the research suggests. The findings could fuel further policy discussions around paid leave, flexible scheduling, and childcare support.
Critics might argue the study's focus on different-sex couples overlooks the experiences of same-sex parents, who may have different dynamics. Pew acknowledges its sample sizes are limited for those groups.