Preferences and Perceived Social Norms for Division of Work and Family Responsibilities among Japanese College Students

Abstract

225 female and 172 male college students were asked to rate their preferences and perceived social norms for division of paid work, housework, and childcare between husband and wife. More women than men preferred to divide paid work equally. Differences between perceived social norms and personal preferences were nearly the same quantitatively for female and male students; however, women's preferences tended to be more egalitarian than perceived social norms while men's preferences were in opposite direction