HOME APPLIANCES AND GENDER GAP OF TIME SPENT ON UNPAID HOUSEWORK: EVIDENCE USING HOUSEHOLD DATA FROM VIETNAM

We examined the gender gap between wives and husbands with regard to time spent on unpaid housework and the interaction terms between home appliance ownership and gender among 36,480 Vietnamese households. We found the gender gap was persistent regardless of number of co-residing children, age cohorts, household size and income, working status of the couples, and whether a wife had a higher wage rate (education) than her husband. The gender gap of time increased with the appearance of home appliances such as gas cookers. A lower probability of husbands doing housework and changes in gender values could be important explanations.