Skip to main content
Log in

Division of household labor and child care in dual-earner African-American families with infants

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined 63 middle- to lower-middle income dual-earner African-American mothers' and fathers' involvement in child care with their infant and in household work, and the degree of support they received for child care. Although analysis revealed gender-differentiated patterns of involvement in care giving and household work along traditional lines, African-American fathers were far from being distant or uninvolved in these activities. Father involvement in child care and household activities did not vary as a function of whether mothers worked full time or part time. The data are discussed with respect to possible gender role convergence in child care and household work in African-American families.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmeduzzaman, M. (1991). Ethnic fathers: Traditionalism, paternal functioning style, and paternal involvement with preschoolers in Hispanic and African-American intact families. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Syracuse University.

  • Ahmeduzzaman, M., & Roopnarine, J. (1992). Sociodemographic factors, functioning style, social support, and fathers' involvement with preschoolers in African-American intact families. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 54, 699–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J. (1990). Parental and nonparental childcare and children's socioemotional development: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 885–903.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berk, R., & Berk, S. (1979). Labor and leisure at home: Content and organization of the household day. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozett, F. W., & Hanson, S. M. H. (1991). Cultural change and the future of fatherhood and families. In F. W. Bozett & S. M. H. Hanson (Eds.), Fatherhood and families in cultural context. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brayfield, A. A. (1992). Employment resources and housework in Canada. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 54, 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broman, C. L. (1988). Household work and family life satisfaction of Blacks. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 743–748.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cazanave, N. A. (1979). Middle income Black fathers: An analysis of the provider role. Family Coordinator, 28, 583–593.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crnic, K. A., Greenberg, M. T., Ragozin, A. S., Robinson, N. M., & Bashman, R. B. (1983). Effects of stress and social support on mothers and premature and full-term infants. Child Development, 52, 857–865.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ericksen, J. A., Yancey, W. L., & Ericksen, E. P. (1979). The division of family roles. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, 301–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferree, M. M. (1990). Beyond separate spheres: Feminism and family research. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 866–884.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glenn, N., & Weaver, C. (1979). A note on family situation and global happiness. Social Forces, 57, 960–967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper, J., & Richards, L. (1979). Mothers and working mothers. Melbourne: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber, J., & Spitze, G. (1983). Sex stratification: Children, housework, and jobs. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hwang, P. (1987). The changing role of Swedish fathers. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The father's role: Cross-cultural perspectives. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, B. L., & Texidor, M. S. (1988). A description of the fathering experience among Black fathers. Journal of Black Nurses Association, 2, 67–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, M. E. (1987). Introduction: The emergent American fathers. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The father's role: Cross-cultural perspectives. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, E. A. (1989). Role strain in black women: The efficacy of support networks. Journal of Black Studies, 20, 155–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAdoo, H. P. (1988). Black families. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAdoo, J. L. (1988). Changing perspectives on the roles of the black father. In P. Bronstein & C. P. Cowan (Eds.), Fatherhood today: Men's changing role in the family. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meneghan, E., & Parcel, T. (1990). Parental employment and family life: Research in the 1980s. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 1079–1089.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moen, P. (1982). The two-provider family: Problems and potentials. In M. Lamb (Ed.) Nontraditional families. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J. (1979). Men's family work: Three perspectives and some new data. The Family Coordinator, 28, 481–488.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J. (1985). Working wives/working husbands. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pruett, K. D. (1983). Two year follow-up of infants of primary nurturing fathers in intact families. Paper presented to the Second World Congress on Infant Psychiatry, Cannes, France.

  • Radin, N. (1982). Primary caregiving and role-sharing fathers. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), Nontraditional families: Parenting and child development. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radin, N., & Sagi, A. (1982). Childrearing fathers in intact families in Israel and the U.S.A. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 28, 111–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roopnarine, J., & Ahmeduzzaman, M. (1993). Puerto Rican Fathers' involvement with their preschool-age children. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 15, 96–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roopnarine, J., & Carter, B. (Eds.) (1992). Parent-child socialization in diverse cultures. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, C. E. (1987). The division of labor at home. Social Forces, 65, 816–833.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, G., & Radin, N. (1983). Increased paternal participation: The father's perspective. In M. E. Lamb, & A. Sagi (Eds.), Fatherhood and family policy. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagi, A. (1982). Antecedents and consequences of various degrees of paternal involvement in childrearing: The Israeli project. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), Nontraditional families: Parenting and child development. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Standqvist, K. (1987). Fathers and family work in two countries: Antecedents and concomitants of fathers' participation in childcare and household work (Studies in Education and Psychology, Vol. 23). Stockholm: Stockholm Institute of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., Tucker, M. B., & Lewis, E. (1990). Developments in research on Black families: A decade review. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 993–1014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trivette, C., & Dunst, C. (1988). Inventory of social support. In C. Dunst, C. Trivette, & A. Deal (Eds.), Enabling and empowering families: Principles and guidelines for practice.

  • Wethington, E., & Kessler, R. C. (1989). Employment, parental responsibility, and psychological distress: A longitudinal study of married women. Journal of Family Issues, 10, 527–546.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hossain, Z., Roopnarine, J.L. Division of household labor and child care in dual-earner African-American families with infants. Sex Roles 29, 571–583 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289205

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289205

Keywords

Navigation