Full Citation
Title: Time Unmasked: Illuminating the Hidden Dimensions of Economic Stratification during COVID-19 in the United States
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2024
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ISSN:
DOI: 10.1080/07360932.2024.2417893
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Abstract: This paper delves into the nuanced impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on time use activities in the United States, particularly examining gender and parental status differences. Drawing on data from the 2018–2022 American Time Use Survey, the study analyzes trends in six distinct time use categories: unpaid care work, leisure, employed activities, personal care, childcare, and household activities. The research sheds light on the evolving dynamics within households during the pandemic, emphasizing the potential implications for economic stratification and societal well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic completely disrupted established time use patterns, forcing a reconsideration of ‘traditional’ gender roles and caregiving responsibilities in certain countries. While early studies hinted at a temporary shift toward more equitable distribution of household activities, particularly childcare, this paper scrutinizes these trends over a more extended period. Despite the short-lived increases in fathers’ involvement in childcare during the pandemic, the study finds that the caregiving burden remained disproportionately on mothers and women. Notably, the analysis reveals persistent gender disparities in unpaid care work, with women and mothers spending a disproportionate amount of time on household activities, housework, and caring for children. This unequal distribution of caregiving responsibilities limits a women’s ability to engage in paid work activities, contributing to economic stratification and constraining their financial resources. While some activities demonstrated slight reductions in gender gaps, the overall picture suggests that the pandemic may not bring about lasting changes in how time is allocated within households.
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Authors: Buder, Iris; Mortenson, Natalie; Watts, Emma
Periodical (Full): Forum for Social Economics
Issue: 5
Volume: 53
Pages: 1-36
Data Collections: IPUMS Time Use - ATUS
Topics: Health, Work, Family, and Time
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