Commenting on a new Gallup report showing that women in marriages or cohabiting relationships are still more likely to do housework, SMU Assistant Professor of Sociology Aliya Hamid Rao who is the author of the forthcoming book “Crunch Time: How Married Couples Confront Unemployment", said that the findings show that gender rather than earning power of individuals ― is what shapes the division of household labour. She opined that many social scientists assumed that things would become more gender egalitarian as younger individuals got into partnerships and forged their relationships. “But we’re not seeing that happen in the way many had thought. Instead, we’re seeing traditional ideas maintaining a stronghold,” said Asst Prof Rao.