Unpaid chores in childhood linked to gender pay gap, researchers say

According to UNICEF, girls spend 40 per cent more time on household chores than boys

Researchers examined data on childhood poverty in India, Ethiopia, Peru and Vietnam, which included over 12,000 children (PA Archive)

Young women and girls taking part in unpaid housework contributes to the gender pay gap, according to a new study.

Research from the Universities of East Anglia (UEA), Birmingham and Brunel has shown that women’s employment participation in later life is impacted by the amount of chores they take on during childhood.

According to UNICEF, young women and girls taking part in unpaid housework contributes to the gender pay gap, according to a new study. Girls spend 40 per cent more time on housework than boys, and unequal shares contribute and are linked to wider inequalities such as lack of access to water, which can lengthen cleaning times.