Housework in the Longue Durée: Implications for Debates on Working Time Reduction

Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to the gap in our understanding of the history of work and working time by looking at one form of unpaid work—housework— in the longue durée. A literature review is conducted, drawing on research from various fields to observe changes in housework across five historical periods in terms of its contents, volume, and distribution, especially between genders. The exploratory findings are then discussed in the context of contemporary WTR debates and areas for further research.