Did COVID-19 Affect the Division of Labor within the Household? Evidence from Two Waves of the Pandemic in Italy

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on families' lives, with parents all over the world struggling to meet increased demands of housework, childcare and home-schooling. Much additional burden been shouldered by women, particularly in countries traditionally uneven division household labor. Yet increase remote work from home since also potential paternal involvement family life thus redress persistent domestic gender role inequalities. This effect depends working arrangements each partner, whether remotely, at their usual workplace or ceasing altogether. We examine during traditional labor Italy using survey data interviews representative sample women conducted two waves (April November 2020). Our show that gap care related activities was widest first wave pandemic, although it less pronounced second wave, still higher than pre-COVID-19. time spent childcare, assisting children distance learning did not depend partners' arrangements. Conversely, men fewer hours helping housework when partners were home. It is interesting, however, who worked remotely devote more chores child care, they seem lead reallocation couples' roles care. Finally, we find are linked women's feelings uncertainty, heterogeneous effects level education.