The gendered division of household labor and decision-making in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The division of labor and decision-making within households is highly influenced by gender norms and resource allocation. However, there has been a marked shift away from traditional gender roles in domestic tasks and decision-making in recent years. This study examines the division of domestic responsibilities, childcare, and decision-making within households, as well as the socioeconomic factors that influence these dimensions in Iran. Data come from the “Survey of Married Lifestyle,” which included 1736 married people aged 18 years and over in Tehran, selected through a multi-stage random sampling process. The results reveal that while women are increasingly involved in decision-making, they still primarily shoulder the burden of household chores and childcare. Factors such as women’s education and income, as well as men’s education and dual-earner status, are key determinants of the division of labor in households. Social policies that focus on enhancing women’s access to education and economic opportunities are crucial for promoting gender equality and empowering women in household decision-making.

Keywords

Domestic labor division / Childcare / Decision-making / Dual-earner status / Resource-based approach / Iran

Funding

This study received partial funding from the National Institute for Population Research in Iran for the data collection process.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests in conducting this research.

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