The Fact
Historical time-diary data summarized by Pew found that mothers averaged about 51 hours per week of paid work, housework, and childcare combined in 1965 and about 53 hours in 2011. The composition changed sharply: paid work rose while housework fell, and childcare time increased modestly.
What This Means
The major historical change was not that mothers suddenly began doing work. A larger share of their total work moved into paid employment while substantial unpaid household and childcare work remained.
Sources
- Pew Research Center, Modern Parenthood: Americans’ Time at Paid Work, Housework, Child Care, 1965–2011.