The Inequality in Dividing Household Chores in Novels about Working Mothers

In many countries, the rate of women’s participation in the working field keeps increasing from time to time because of the increase in their educational level and economic condition. This condition leads to some changes concerning the gender roles in a family, however, it does not really change the division of household chores between husband and wife. Women are still considered as the main person to do most of the household chores. This topic is often presented as the main theme in some literary works, particularly novels. This research examines four different novels, Opening Belle, I Don’t Know How She Does It, Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 and The Balance Project, by analyzing the inequality in dividing household chores faced by the working mothers in the novels. This research uses qualitative method consisting of description, reduction and selection stages. From the analysis results, it can be seen that the working mothers still do most of the household chores, while their husband does not help them much. Although they can pay someone to help them do the chores, however, the help is not as good as expected. They still have to struggle in combining between household chores and work which eventually makes them feel exhausted. Until now, it seems impossible for working women to balance between family and work because women’s main roles are still to be at home.