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Abstract: Single men and women resemble each other in time spent on housework and on the labor market much more than do their partnered counterparts. Despite an increase in labor force participation over the past century, women still do a greater share of housework and childcare. However, studies have been unable to determine whether this within-household specialization results from expectations about one’s own gender or because of the partner’s gender. We argue that individuals with bisexual trajectories provide a unique setting to study whether one’s own gender or the partner’s gender drives individuals’ labor market behavior. Using Dutch administrative population data on more than 100,000 persons with bisexual trajectories whose labor market outcomes we observe monthly over 15 years, we investigate whether males and females with bisexual trajectories adjust their hours worked to their partner’s gender. We find that men with bisexual trajectories work more and earn more when in a relationship with a female than with a male partner. Women with bisexual trajectories, on the other hand, reduce their hours worked and earn less when in a relationship with a female rather than a male partner.

The Sociology Seminar Series for Michaelmas Term is convened by Christiaan Monden and Leo Azzolini.  For more information about this or any of the seminars in the series, please contact sociology.secretary@nuffield.ox.ac.uk.