Babies scupper equality

Vittoria D'Alessio reports on the social side of a British Psychological Society conference at Strathclyde. The good intentions of young "liberated" couples to share domestic chores get thrown to the wind after the birth of a first child, according to the results of a study carried out by psychologists at the University of Birmingham.

Gill Cappuccini and Ray Cochrane interviewed 112 couples, first in late pregnancy and then about six months after birth. They found that the stereotypes of man-the-bread-winner and woman-the-homemaker prevailed after the birth, even when the woman had previously enjoyed a good career which she had intended to resume.

"We found that the idea of equality and shared roles which is very widespread among liberated middle-class couples was not reflected in practice," says Professor Cochrane. "But the husband did not have to participate equally with the household chores for a woman to be happy, he just had to lend emotional support and be willing to help."

Professor Cochrane added that if he were a marital counsellor, his first piece of advice to any couple would be to employ a domestic helper.