Page 119 - IJPS-11-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Gendered division of household labor in Iran

Table 2. The distribution of domestic labor division, child care responsibilities, and family decision‑making within the household (%)
Items Always the More the Equal More Always Total
woman woman the man the man
Cooking and preparing daily meals 82.2 10.6 7.1 0.1 0 100.0
Dishwashing 71.8 15.9 11.5 0.7 0.1 100.0
House cleaning 71.5 18 8.6 1 0.9 100.0
Domestic labor division (n=1,736) 75.2 14.8 9.1 0.6 0.3 100.0
90 9.1 0.9 100.0
Overseeing children’s homework 54.1 19.7 22.9 2 1.3 100.0
Helping with dressing 61.8 24.4 13.3 0.4 0.1 100.0
Managing children’s sleep routines 60.4 23.9 14.9 0.3 0.5 100.0
Caring for sick children 46.1 26.4 27.1 0.3 0.1 100.0
Play with children or talking to them 17.9 19 61 1.6 0.5 100.0
Childcare responsibilities (n=1,428) 48.1 22.7 27.8 0.9 0.5 100.0
70.8 27.8 1.4 100.0
Making decisions about family affairs 2.3 5.5 81 8.6 2.6 100.0
Making decisions about leisure activities 2.1 9.7 82.3 4.4 1.5 100.0
Making decisions about major purchases 2 5.9 80.1 8.9 3.1 100.0
Making decisions about parenting styles 2.8 8.7 86 1.5 1 100.0
Making decisions about visiting relatives and friends 2 7.7 85.7 3.3 1.3 100.0
Who is the main decision-maker in your family? 1.3 2.9 68.2 20.1 7.5 100.0
Family decision-making power (n=1,736) 2.1 6.7 80.6 7.8 2.8 100.0
8.8 80.6 10.6 100.0
Domestic labor division scale Mean=10.92 SD=1.65 Range=4 – 12
Child care scale Mean=13.34 SD=1.98 Range=0 – 20
Family decision-making scale Mean=11.85 SD=2.48 Range=0 – 24
Abbreviation: SD: Standard deviation

In summary, the multivariate modeling findings of a move toward more equal decision-making processes
the present study partially conform to the power resource within households. Factors such as women’s education,
theory. Women with educational and financial resources dual-income status, and length of marriage were found
tend to have lower levels of domestic labor and childcare to positively impact women’s participation in household
responsibilities and are more engaged in making family decision-making. Consistent with previous studies (e.g.,
decisions. Nevertheless, a considerable portion of gender Albert & Escardíbul, 2016; Khare, 2021; Cannonier &
disparities in household division of labor and decision- Burke, 2022), women with higher levels of education are
making cannot be accounted for resource-related factors, more likely to be involved in household decision-making.
highlighting the influence of traditional gender norms and Moreover, the study found that in dual-earner households,
beliefs. both partners are typically involved in household decision-
making. As noted by Bernasek and Bajtelsmit (2002),
4. Discussion women’s contribution to household decisions is influenced
In recent decades, there has been a shift in traditional by their share of the total household income. The study also
gender roles in many developing countries toward a more found that the longer the duration of marriage, the greater
equal sharing of domestic labor and decision-making the level of women’s involvement in decision-making, in
power. This study aimed to explore the gendered division of line with existing literature (e.g., Mostafiz & Jamil 2022;
household tasks and decision-making authority in Iranian Gómez-Valle & Holvoet 2022).
households and factors influencing these dynamics. The Furthermore, the study results revealed that factors
findings revealed that a majority of Iranian women actively such as the level of education for both men and women,
participate in household decision-making, indicating women’s income, and having dual-earner status were

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 113 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.3212