Division of Labor in LGBTQ-Parent Families

Examination of the ways in which same-sex couples organize their households provides insight into the lives of LGBTQ-parented families. But, more broadly, it also reveals new information about the operation of gender in society. Household labor has traditionally been organized along gendered lines with women being primarily responsible for domestic labor, such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for children, while men have been responsible for earning income—that is, they have occupied the role of the breadwinner. Understanding processes by which same-sex couples organize their work and family life demonstrates possibilities for reshaping household practices along nontraditional lines. But also, perhaps conversely, the experiences of LGBTQ-parented families can show the ways in which an individual’s gender shapes his or her experience of parenting, domestic life, and ...