Domestic Dissatisfaction: Numerous Women Contemplate Divorce Due to Home Chores

In a study by the Berlin Institute for Population and Development (BiB), deep-rooted gender role models were identified as the primary obstacle to achieving an equal division of housework in German households, particularly after the birth of the first child. This complex and evolving challenge is influenced by societal norms, gender roles, and structural barriers.

Despite progress in gender equality, women in Germany continue to bear a larger share of domestic labour, with the division often becoming more unequal after childbirth. This trend is consistent with broader European patterns, where traditional gender roles persist despite increased female participation in the workforce.

There is, however, a growing awareness of the importance of shared housework and parental responsibilities. This shift is driven by grassroots advocacy, policy debates, and the push for better work-life balance, flexible working arrangements, and parental leave for both parents.

Digitalization and labour shortages in the service and labour sectors could indirectly support more equal domestic labour. Technological solutions, such as online grocery shopping and cleaning services, could free up personal time or reduce domestic burdens. However, their impact on household labour division is currently limited.

Key challenges to achieving an equal division of housework include traditional socialization and gender roles, structural barriers in employment, and policy and institutional support. Deep-seated cultural expectations about caregiving and housework still disproportionately assign these tasks to women, even as both partners work outside the home. High non-wage labour costs and limited flexibility in working hours can make it difficult for parents to balance work and home responsibilities, particularly affecting mothers.

Germany's progressive parental leave policies are not yet fully utilised by fathers, and there is still a lack of affordable, high-quality childcare options in some regions, which can reinforce traditional divisions of labour. Recent analyses suggest that while ideological differences between young men and women are generally stable or only slightly widening, these shifts are not always reflected in actual housework division.

The BiB study does not provide new statistics or facts about the division of housework, but it does highlight the need for more supportive framework conditions, such as a family budget and flexible working hours, to achieve an equal division of housework. The study also recommends expanding the concept of work in social policy to include housework and unpaid activities like childcare and care for the elderly.

In summary, while there is a growing recognition of the need for an equal division of housework in Germany, significant challenges remain. Persistent gender roles, structural barriers in employment and childcare, and slow behavioural change continue to hinder progress. While digitalization and automation may offer future support, they have not yet transformed household labour division in a meaningful way. Policy reforms, cultural shifts, and greater uptake of parental leave by fathers are among the key levers for real change.

The scientific community has highlighted deep-rooted gender role models as the primary hindrance for an equal division of housework in German households, particularly post-childbirth, reinforcing the need for a focus on health-and-wellness and women's health in family-dynamics research and policy-and-legislation discussions.
Aside from science, there is a growing consensus in general-news and relationship discourses about the need for shared housework and parental responsibilities, fueled by grassroots advocacy and political debates pushing for better work-life balance, flexible working arrangements, and parental leave for both parents.
The lifestyle implications of these debates reach beyond household division, affecting healthcare, wellness, and overall quality of life, as women in Germany continue to bear a larger share of domestic labour, impacting their health and well-being.
Recognizing the influence of policy and institutional support, policymakers might consider expanding the scope of social policy to acknowledge housework and unpaid activities like care for the elderly, addressing structural barriers in employment and childcare that hinder an equal division of housework.
As politics evolves, progressive parental leave policies need to be better implemented to encourage fathers' participation in caregiving, thereby fostering healthier, more balanced family-dynamics and ultimately shaping a societal model that promotes a more equitable division of housework for the health, well-being, and lifestyle of all family members.