ABS data reveals Aussie women still in traditional roles

Shattering the stereotypical belief that Millennials are entitled and self-absorbed, new data shows that the generation’s women are the most stretched for time.

The busiest people in Australia are millennial women, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ first Time Use Study in 15 years.

Shattering the stereotypical belief that the millennial generation are entitled and self-absorbed, the new data shows that women aged 35 to 44 are the most stretched for time, putting in nearly as many hours of paid work as men but also picking up the lion’s share of child rearing, cleaning and cooking in the home.

Millennials are typically defined as those born between 1981 and 1996. Generation X are those born 1965 to 1980.

“It’s been a surprise to see that millennial women still play a very traditional role of doing most of the domestic chores while still working,” demographer Mark McCrindle said.

“Very little has changed over the last 15 years since the last Time Use Study from the ABS.

“The survey shows that younger families are still stuck in traditional roles with women doing most of the chores indoors while men are sticking with the gardening or car maintenance.”

Demographer Mark McCrindle. Picture: Supplied

The ABS study looked into the lives of 2000 homes to see how people over the age of 15 spend their time on work, domestic duties, recreation and sleep.

Young males aged 15 to 24 have laid back lives with only 25 per cent claiming to be overstretched but it is women aged 65 and over who experience the least time stress.

This study showed that people on average are getting almost nine hours of sleep a night with men getting more shut-eye than women.

During the day, people are getting four and half hours of recreation and leisure time.

“Women are getting less time for sleep and recreation and more of the family and domestic responsibility,” Mr Mcrindle said.

“Since the last study in 2006, men are doing a little more child care,” he said.

Gold Coast mum Kit Wise, 40, is a busy millennial and is time poor.

Gold Coast Kit Wise with her son, Jagger. Picture: Nigel Hallett

She runs her own photographic business, is mum to two kids aged six and nine, is a “full-time” cleaner in her home, which is used regularly for photo shoots, is taxi driver to her kids who have many out of school activities and clocks up six hours sleep each night.

“I am a one-man band in my business so I am constantly busy. I take photos in the day and edit them in the evening, often up until midnight. Even when I go to bed my brain swirls with the load of things to do. My husband is a great help and my mum lives with us and she is amazing too. Last year I had to make a determined effort to try to slow down a bit, just for self-preservation,” he said.