The role of culture in the gendered division of domestic labor: Evidence from migrant populations in Europe

An attractive explanation of the persistence of gender inequality in the division of domestic labor hinges on the role of culture. However, it is difficult to demonstrate the impact of cultural factors (e.g. social norms), as they are confounded with other institutional factors (e.g. social policies). This article deals with this issue by applying the emerging ‘epidemiological approach’ which focuses on international migrants as individuals who bring cultures differing from that prevailing in the national contexts in which they live. The study analyzes the gender division of housework of first- and second-generation immigrants living in countries covered by the second and fifth round of the European Social Survey. Applying cross-classified multilevel models and using several indicators of gender culture at both origin and destination, it is found that the female share of housework increases in couples when the man or the woman comes from a gender-traditional cultural background. The effect of culture is homogenous across destination countries and only partly explained by parental background. However, it tends to disappear among second generations.