ABSTRACT
Starting from the division of gender roles in paid and unpaid work in the different European countries, this chapter intends to show the respective influence of marriage and children on this traditional gender role division. To earn a living for the family is the main responsibility of the husband, head of the family and official breadwinner in the traditional division of gender roles. Unpaid work can be measured either by the number of hours devoted to it or by its monetary value. According to Blood and Wolfe’s theory, paid work is a ‘resource’ which increases the potential for bargaining for a better status in marital life. The activity rates of men and women in European countries make it possible to calculate the percentage of men and women outside the labour force. European data indicate that marriage and children reduce the leisure time more for women than for men.
