FReDA Policy Brief | 09.07.2025Shared, fair, satisfied? Division of housework harbours potential for conflict

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What is the division of labor for various household activities in German households? And what factors hinder or promote a more balanced distribution of housework?

Discrepancy between ideal and reality

Regardless of the proportion of gainful employment that partners take on: A large majority of the working-age population would like to see an equal division of housework between partners. However, people very often fail to realise this aspiration. Even couples who practise a symmetrical division at the beginning of their relationship often revert to an unequal division as soon as the first child arrives and compatibility problems become apparent.

Gender-specific responsibilities

The division of housework between partners differs not only in terms of quantity, but also according to the type of work. Around 80% of couples living together report that the man is primarily responsible for repairs, for example. Women, on the other hand, are often responsible for regular routine tasks such as laundry (in 71% of couples, the woman is responsible for this), cleaning (66%) or cooking (58%). For couples with children, this distinction in activities is even more pronounced.

Unequal division promotes dissatisfaction

Both partners often consider the division of housework between men and women to be as fair as possible. Women in relationships organised in this way are on average more satisfied than those who live in a partnership with an unequal division. Inequality in the division of housework, on the other hand, often leads to a greater burden - and for many women to a strong sense of injustice. Around one in five women in partnerships with asymmetrically shared housework think about ending the relationship.

Parenthood is the toughest test

The transition to parenthood in particular can be a trigger for the unequal distribution of housework. As soon as children are part of the household, women are much more likely to take on a large proportion of the routine tasks. This unequal division of labour then often becomes entrenched over time.

Reduce the burden on women, encourage men's commitment

A roughly equal division of housework not only corresponds to the ideal of most people in young and middle age in Germany, but is often also an important basis for stable and happy partnerships. However, more supportive framework conditions would be important for realising this, especially at the beginning of the family phase.

“It would be crucial to provide support by relieving the burden of housework on couples - and therefore women in particular. This could be achieved through external offers, such as the promotion of household-related services or the family budget agreed in the coalition agreement, which could be used to pay for everyday helpers for families with small children or relatives in need of care, for example,” says Dr. Leonie Kleinschrot, co-author of the study.

Flexible working time models could also make it possible for women and men to pursue both gainful employment and family responsibilities: “It should be easier for fathers in particular to be actively involved in family and housework from the outset and to a greater extent than before,” adds co-author Dr. Detlev Lück.

Data basis and background

The policy brief is based on data from the FReDA family demographic panel, a representative survey of the population in Germany. The people surveyed in 2023 were aged between 20 and 52. The analyses published here only include people who live with a partner as a heterosexual couple and who have German citizenship.

The name FReDA stands for “Family Research and Demographic Analysis” and is a cooperation project between the BiB and the Leibniz Institute for Social Sciences GESIS. Twice a year, the study collects data on partnership and family living situations in Germany. FReDA provides researchers with representative, reliable, and high-quality data, enabling up-to-date analyses of families and the population in young and middle adulthood.