Time: Our most valued resource

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released an analysis of the 2023 American Time Use Survey.  On average, women spend .6 hours a day (36 minutes) more caring for children than men.  Specifically, for children under 6, women spend an average of 0.84 hours (50 minutes) more; for children aged 6 to 12, the difference is 0.73 hours (44 minutes).



   

 

I Go To Work

Being a working parent decreases the average amount of time spent caring for children.  The difference in care time between men and women employed full-time is 0.15 hours or 9 minutes.  Additionally, full-time employed women spend 0.26 hours, or 16 minutes, less time caring for children than part-time employed women.  Both full-time and part-time working women report spending the same amount of time—0.09 hours, or 6.3 minutes—caring for people outside the home.  However, there is minimal difference between men and women employed full-time regarding the time spent caring for individuals outside the home – .02 hours or 1.2 minutes.



Because the data are not disaggregated by race/ethnicity, marital status, or income status, they hide inequality in parental care, which is essential for policies intended to make caring for children more equitable.  Here is a link to the data for you to explore.

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