FIParent Blog

Chore Wars and Gender Stereotyping

January 30th, 2007

A study by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research suggests that parents may be unconsciously perpetuating sexual stereotypes in the way they parcel out chores. The study found that boys are more likely to get paid for doing chores around the house than girls. Frank Stafford, the economics professor heading the study, speculates that parents tend to give boys more opportunities to do extra chores for which they get paid and tend to assign routine, non-paying chores, such as cooking or dishwashing, to girls.  The consequences may be teaching girls to expect to make less money in the work place than their male counterparts.  It may also be teaching them that the work they do is less valuable. 

Our thoughts?  Divide chores into routine family chores that are done without payment, and extra chores that you will pay for.  Don’t sexual stereotype when assigning routine chores.  If taking out the trash, raking leaves and running the vacuum cleaner are routine chores at your house, remember that girls can take out the trash and rake leaves and boys can vacuum. 

Entry Filed under: Chores, Modeling Values