Have you seen or heard the viral claim: “Having a husband adds 7 hours of housework per week for women?” It feels right—but is it? In this episode of Is This Legit?, I track down the source of this stat, dig into what the research actually says, and uncover why outdated data keeps going viral.

Along the way, we’ll talk about:

The 2008 University of Michigan press release behind this claim (and why it’s not a study).
What more recent research says about gender, marriage, and housework.
How social media algorithms push misinformation.
Why cuts to research funding are making it harder to get real answers.

If you’ve ever questioned where viral stats actually come from, wondered whether we’re using outdated data when better research exists, or just want to know the truth about who’s really doing the housework, this episode is for you.

Referenced:

University of Michigan article
2023 American Time Use Survey Results
2024 Gender Equity Policy Institute Report
2013 PEW research report
2022 meta-analysis
ABC news article

Do husbands = more housework?