From Home to Workplace: Gender Equality and Domestic Labor Division in Malaysian Dual-Career Couples

This study explores gender equality and the domestic labor division among dual-career families in Malaysia, with a specific focus on how demographic variables and satisfaction with labor division influence marital outcomes. Data were collected from 1120 urban dual-earner couples with young children. Our findings identify persistent gender disparities in household responsibilities. Although parenting and personal time are more evenly split across ethnicities, women still shoulder most housework, whereas men dominate paid labor contributions. Men report higher satisfaction with both labor divisions and exhibit greater marital investment than women. Moreover, socio-demographics, age, educational attainment, and race, significantly predict satisfaction levels, underscoring the influence of cultural and structural elements in shaping perceptions of household equity. Notably, satisfaction with the domestic labor division emerged as a significant predictor of marriage satisfaction, reinforcing the relevance of equitable labor sharing in nurturing relationship quality. As the first empirical study of its kind in Malaysia, this research highlights the challenges and progress in gender role transformation within dual-career households. Findings offer practical implications for policymakers, employers, and families, especially in shaping inclusive work-life policies and promoting gender-balanced domestic responsibilities. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on gender equality, supports the aspirations of Malaysia’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.