Unequal Chores, Unequal Joy? Perceptions of Housework Satisfaction in Spain and Sweden

Despite advances in gender equality, the division of domestic labour remains unequal to women’s disadvantage, with significant consequences for individual well-being and couple relationships. This article analyses the satisfaction with the division of housework among heterosexual couples in Spain and Sweden, two countries with contrasting institutional and normative contexts regarding gender equality. Drawing on harmonised data from the 2018 Spanish Fertility Survey and the 2021 Swedish Generations and Gender Survey, the study examines responses from over 12,800 individuals aged 19 to 55 living with a different-sex partner. The results reveal persistent gender differences: men report higher levels of satisfaction with unequal arrangements, whereas women are more satisfied when the division is equal. The sociocultural context also proves crucial: Swedish women are the least satisfied with unequal divisions, while Spanish men exhibit high satisfaction regardless of domestic arrangements. Regression analyses confirm that the type of division is the strongest predictor of satisfaction, outweighing other factors such as employment status or educational attainment. This study contributes to the debate on the stalled gender revolution by highlighting that perceived satisfaction with the division of housework must be understood in relation to structural inequalities and national normative frameworks.