The Basque Institute for Statistics (Eustat) asks in its Living Conditions Survey about participation in different types of domestic and caregiving tasks. The Basque Youth Observatory has analyzed the data corresponding to 2019 (the latest available pending the 2024 survey) and shows, below, the differences in participation in these types of tasks between young men and women, considering as such those between 16 and 34 years of age.
93.9% of women and 88.0% of men aged 16 to 34 participate in some (or several) of the proposed tasks.
As can be seen in the graph, women participate more than men in all types of tasks proposed. The main difference between women and men is related to the preparation of clothes (washing, ironing, sewing).
And while among women, the most common tasks are dishwashing and cleaning the house, among men they are dishwashing and shopping for food and other household products.
The tasks in which young women and men participate the least are caring for children and, above all, caring for elderly and/or dependent persons. It should be noted, in any case, that in many households or families there are no children or elderly dependents to care for.
On the other hand, if we compare the participation in domestic and care tasks of women aged 16 to 34 with that of women aged 35 to 64 and 65 and over, we see that young women participate less than those aged 35 to 64 in all the types of tasks proposed. The main differences between the two age groups are those related to cooking and laundry. There are also very notable differences in the case of childcare.
Younger women have higher percentages than women over 65 years of age in childcare and house cleaning; however, young women participate less than older women in cooking and laundry.
Goal No. 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals is gender equality.
