Has Modern marriage changed this?
In Western culture, marriage has shifted towards more of an intimacy focus. The values of an intimacy based marriage are faithfulness, respect, appreciation, understanding, tolerance, a happy sexual relationship, and sharing household chores.
Modern marriages seek more balance, reciprocity, flexibility, and equality in the division of household labor. Modern partnerships focus more on the individual needs and assuring the fulfillment of each person. Women are found to be happier when men do more housework and thus men oblige their wives and make more of an attempt to help out around the house.
What could make it equal?
~ Governments can ensure that men and women earn equal wages to discourage specializing between paid and unpaid labor.
~ Governments can provide childcare subsidies allowing women greater incentive to enter into the labor force.
~ Governments can pass legislation to encourage paternal leave that would offer both parents an opportunity to care for their newborns.
~ Men can alleviate the burden of housework from women by spending more time doing unpaid work. This could require doing less paid work or overcoming gender stereotypes of men not donning an apron or wielding a vacuum cleaner.