In Catalonia, a significant gap remains between men and women in terms of how time is allocated to household tasks and caregiving. Women continue to shoulder the primary responsibility for planning and handling family duties, even though their participation in the workforce has increased noticeably in recent decades. New data shows that even today, women are three times more likely than men to manage household organization and childcare.
Nearly 60% of women in the region regularly plan family lunches and dinners on weekdays. Among men, this figure is less than a quarter. The gap is even more pronounced when it comes to monitoring children’s education: over half of women track their children’s school performance, compared to less than 10% of men.
The Time Problem
Experts note that most working residents of Catalonia struggle to manage their time. This is felt especially acutely by women, whose workload often goes beyond the standard workday. Even as men gradually get more involved in family care, the issue remains unresolved: many women are left with less than two hours of free time per day. This lack of time is referred to as ‘time poverty.’
The traditional model of time distribution, first proposed in the 19th century by Robert Owen, called for an equal division of the day among work, rest, and leisure. However, in modern society, where women actively participate in economic life, this principle no longer holds. Family care and household responsibilities are still considered a female domain, resulting in overload and a lack of personal time.
Social disparities
Although the gender gap regarding household duties in Catalonia has nearly halved in recent years, the issue remains relevant. Time distribution is influenced not only by gender but also by education level and social status. Among women with low levels of education, more than 70% handle all domestic chores themselves, whereas among men with the same education level, only about 20% do so.
The situation is slightly better for women with higher education: just over half of them continue to manage family affairs, while for men this figure rises to a quarter. This indicates that education and social status have a direct impact on how family responsibilities are divided.
Power and time
Experts emphasize that the more control a person has over organizing their own life, the greater their level of autonomy. People with low incomes and limited resources cannot afford to ‘buy’ free time by hiring household help or a nanny for their children. In such families, women are most often forced to juggle work and domestic responsibilities, leading to chronic fatigue and a lack of personal time.
At the same time, if a family can afford to pay for childcare or domestic help, part of the burden is lifted. However, for most residents of Catalonia, such services remain inaccessible, and the question of equal time distribution between men and women is still unresolved.
Possible solutions
Civil organizations are calling for a rethink of outdated approaches to time allocation and are advocating for new legislation to help balance responsibilities between genders. In particular, the possibility of passing a rational time management law, supported by some political forces, is being discussed. This step could mark significant progress toward a more equitable society, where caring for the family is no longer seen as exclusively a woman’s duty.
For now, the statistics speak for themselves: despite progress, women in Catalonia continue to bear the main burden of caring for the home and loved ones. Change is underway, but the road to true equality is still far from over.
