The changing attitudes towards gender roles and its effects on couple dynamics

Abstract

In Singapore, gender equality seems to have already been attained. In most aspects of life, all individuals seem privy to the same opportunities. However, things are different in the household. While dual-income households are the majority, and financial contributions are on par for men and women, the same cannot be said for the household. Women still bear the brunt of household chores and care labour, and as such, carry the burden of the “second shift”. As such, this study aims to find out if attitudes towards traditional gender roles have really changed, in the face of the apparent unequal distribution of household labour, and how this affects the couple. The study found that while individuals maintain they disagree with traditional gender roles, they still retain assumptions about housework as a woman’s job, whilst giving men supporting roles. As such, despite their beliefs, the household habits remain hard to change.