WIVES PERCEPTIONS OF THE FAIRNESS OF THE DIVISION OF HOUSEHOLD LABOR - THE INTERSECTION OF HOUSEWORK AND IDEOLOGY

This study analyzes the determinants of wives' perceptions of the fairness of the division of household labor. In agreement with Ferree (1990), we argue that both ideological and material factors must be included in any analysis of housework. Using data from the 1988 National Survey of Families and Households, the analyses indicate that husbands' contributions to "female" tasks and appreciation of women's household labor are the most important determinants of wives' perceptions of fairness, with the strength of the associations in some cases being greater for employed than for nonemployed wives. The effects of perceived qualities of household labor are minimal, except for an effect of loneliness for nonemployed wives. The role of ideological factors appears to be minimal. The results are discussed in terms of Thompson's (1991) distributive justice framework for the analysis of women's perceptions of the fairness of household division of labor.