Do Boys’ and Girls’ Daily Activities Differ? Cross-Country Evidence
This study uses 2009-2015 time-diary data to examine gender differences in daily activities among children and adolescents aged 10-17 in Finland, Spain and the UK (N = 3,517). Gender differences in child time use are strong in all three countries. Boys are more involved in screen-based time and exercising, and girls in domestic work, non-screen educational time, personal care and socializing. The UK shows the largest gender differences in child time use, including domestic work (60% gender gap), exercising (57%), non-screen educational time (35%), screen-based time (31%), personal care (27%) and socializing (21%). Finland resembles the UK in domestic work (58% gap) and non-screen educational time (34%), showing smaller gender gaps in other activities, without significant gender differences with Spain and UK. Spain exhibits the smallest gender differences in child time use, with significant differences with the UK in screen-based time (16% gap), socializing (6%) and personal care (14%). Demographic and socioeconomic factors contribute little to explain these findings. While gender differences in child time use are moderately smaller in ‘egalitarian’ Finland than in ‘liberal’ UK, ‘family-oriented’ Spain presents interestingly the smallest gender gaps. The complex role of social contexts and life-course stages in shaping gendered activities is discussed.