Factors Affecting Husbands’ Involvement in Household Chores among Dual Earner Couples of Lusaka’s Libala Township

Hadunka Eustekia Mutinta and Dr. Fay Gadsden
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Hadunka Eustekia Mutinta: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Dr. Fay Gadsden: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2025, vol. 9, issue 7, 5172-5183

Abstract: Background: There are published reports that wives among dual earner couples spend more time in performing household chores than their husbands despite spending equal hours in the work place. Aim: This study aimed to assess factors influencing husbands` involvement in household chores among Zambian dual earner couples in Lusaka`s Libala Township. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Libala Township of Lusaka in Zambia. Eighty (80) households of dual earner couples participated in the study. The responses were obtained through questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Results: The age of the dual earner couples ranged from 21 to 69 years. The study revealed that about 96% of husbands were not involved in routine household chores such as dish washing, laundry, cooking, and sweeping. Gendered socialization coupled with factors such as wider age gap between husband and wife, presence of young children, social expectations, poor social networks, extended family, wives’ higher income, husbands’ negative attitudes were found to hinder husbands’ involvement in household chores while higher education and non-gendered socialization encouraged husbands’ involvement in household chores. Conclusion: It can be concluded that a gendered division of household chores exists among dual earner couples in Lusaka. However, the husbands` progressive attitudes do not translate into performing the chores. Therefore, husbands need reorientation in terms of their involvement in household chores through the media, churches, and marriage counseling workshops.

Date: 2025
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