Fair but not Equal: Negotiating the Division of Unpaid Labour in Same-Sex Couples in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia

Research suggests that same-sex couples have a more egalitarian approach to the division of labor (DOL) than different-sex couples. Based on multi-stage interviews with ten same-sex couples in Aotearoa NZ and Australia, we analyze how couples negotiate, perform, and perceive the fairness of their division of reproductive household labor. We found that same-sex couples had diverse patterns of dividing labor, and most were not equally sharing housework. Yet, most couples felt their DOL was fair. We argue that three key factors enabled participants to construct their DOL fairly, even when unequal: flexibility in allocating labor, communication, and revaluing unpaid labor as equal to paid labor, as an act of love, which can be culturally significant. Most participants explained their labor division as pragmatic, based on availability and preference, rather than gender, supporting theories of relative resources and time availability in shaping fairness perceptions. However, all participants were aware of how gender shaped their relationships, and some consciously sought to undo gender and heteronormativity through their labor practices. This study contributes to academic theorizing of how LGBTQ + families do gender and do heteronormativity through unpaid labor and affirms the importance of intersectional analysis for understanding labor practices and perceptions.

Automated summary

Research suggests that same-sex couples tend to have a more equal approach towards the division of household labor compared to different-sex couples. This study analyzes how same-sex couples negotiate, perform, and perceive the fairness of their division of reproductive household labor based on interviews with ten couples from New Zealand and Australia. The findings reveal that while same-sex couples have diverse patterns of labor division, most of them do not equally share housework. However, despite the unequal division, most couples still consider their division of labor to be fair. The study highlights the importance of flexibility in labor allocation, effective communication, and revaluing unpaid labor as acts of love in constructing a fair division of labor.