DT 11 - 24 Patrones de uso del tiempo de varones y mujeres en Uruguay. 2007-2022

This paper analyzes trends in gender inequalities in time use in Uruguay between 2007 and 2021 based on three time-use surveys (2007, 2013 and 2021). The results show that, while gender gaps have slowly narrowed, women continue to have a higher unpaid workload and a lower paid workload than men. These inequalities are larger in households with children and at lower socioeconomic levels. Despite the persistence of these overall patterns, some interesting changes are detected over the period. The study reveals increases in women’s paid work alongside decreases in hours of unpaid work. This decline in women's unpaid work is due to a decrease in domestic work between 2007-2013, and a decrease in care work between 2013-2021. The latter appears to be primarily associated with a decrease in fertility rates and the extension of early childhood care services. There is also a convergence in care patterns among women of different educational levels. Finally, an increase in men's housework is detected, with a significant increase for those between 60 and 74 years old. It is important to continue monitoring time use trends and to deepen the analysis of the factors that condition gender inequalities to generate relevant information for public policy design.

Keywords:  time-use surveys, unpaid work, gender inequalities