As a result, women often had more time for domestic work than men. In such families, there was less difference in the time spent by each partner on domestic work than among couples in general. Measuring time use Information on time spent on different activities is taken from the 1997 Time Use Survey. Time use data was compiled from a household questionnaire and a 48-hour diary of time use, completed by respondents aged 15 years and over. For each five-minute time slot in the diary, people could record up to two concurrent activities.
Domestic work refers to unpaid work about the house, excluding most child care and shopping.
Unpublished data, Time Use Survey, 1997. As well as differences in the amount of time spent by men and women in couple families on domestic work, there was also a high degree of segregation in the specific types of domestic work they undertook. Differences in time spent on various domestic activities was also reflected in the extent to which partners participated in these activities. Includes food preparation and clean up, laundry and clothes care, and general housework. Children aged 0-14 at home.