Spousal role allocation and equity in older couples

The issue of equality and equity in spousal role allocation has been one of the most popular topics examined by researchers over the years, especially following the massive entry of women into the labor force in Western countries. For the term equality in spousal role allocation, some definitions adopt a pragmatic instrumental orientation and define equality in spousal life as a situation in which the man and the woman participate equally in the housework (Hochshild, 1989) or their contributions are more or less equal (Brannen & Moss, 1991). These definitions of equality in spousal role allocation are measured by minutes and hours, tasks, or overall responsibility. The concept of spousal equity, on the other hand, emphasizes symbolic and relational meanings and actually refers to perceived equality; it argues that feelings of (in)-equity are based on subjective evaluations of outcomes, the degree to which outcomes are valued, and that perceptions of fairness and equity are the result of comparison with others (Greenstein, 1996). However, these two terms are used interchangeably in much of the academic literature. Interest in examining the nature of household task allocation stems from findings indicating that in Western societies, equality and equity in household tasks are related to marital satisfaction and marital quality (e.g., Stanik & Bryant, 2012). However, most of the studies on this topic havefocused on parents with young children living at home, and there is a relative dearth of research on allocation of household tasks in midlife and late adulthood. The lack of research attention to these life periods may be attributed to findings indicating that the burden of household chores declines significantly in midlife and late adulthood, especially after the empty nest stage (for a review, see Anderson & Sabatelli, 2007). Hence, it has been assumed that the examination of equity in household role allocation and its impact on the spousal relationship in later stages of the life cycle is not as relevant as it is in earlier stages. However, equity in role allocation among spouses in midlife and late adulthood has become a highly relevant issue in light of recent normative changes and developments in different domains. For example, medical advancements that have increased life expectancy (Saraceno & Keck, 2010) have prolonged the stage of late adulthood. Long-lasting marriages have consequently become more prevalent today than in the past, and research on household task allocation over the entire lifespan, including midlife and late adulthood, has become highly relevant. When examining the nature and sources of spousal role allocation in the later stages of marriage, it is important to take into account several major transitions in midlife and late adulthood that may affect the dyadic unit as well as the division of labor at home (Bookwala, 2012). These transitions include the empty nest and retirement (of one or both partners), as well as becoming a caregiver to one or more ill family members. In this chapter, I focus on how each of these transitions affects spousal role allocation and equity in household