The division of domestic work in Spain : is undoing gender possible ?

This article studies thirty - three dual - income Spanish childless heterosexual couples who were undoing gender in routine domestic work. We understand “undoing gender” as defined by Deutsch (2007): “social interactions that reduce gender difference”. The d ual - earner couples came from different socio - economic backgrounds and were inte rviewed in four different Spanish towns in 2011. The analysis shows that resources in a wide sense , time availability, external help, ideas about fairness, and complex gender attitudes are key interdependent factors that together may form different paths l eading to a non - mainstream division of housework. Four paths are identified: the first two are based on beliefs in gender equality and on ideas about fairness equal responsibility and equal leisure; the third is characterized by conflict; and the fourth re lies on commodification. The ways in which these couples are undoing gender illustrate the external, individual and couple circumstances spouses succeed to achieve a more gender - equal construction of unpaid wor