Doing gender, doing culture: Division of domestic labour among lesbians in Hong Kong

SynopsisIn places where feminism or personal autonomy is not part of dominant public discourse, women have to rely on other cultural narratives in the construction of their relationships and living arrangements. This paper is an exploratory study based on self-reports of Hong Kong women in lesbian relationships and who consider themselves as families. The paper aims to contribute to debates on the impact of “doing gender” on the household division of labour. It is found that while the gendered dichotomy of messiness/tidiness translates into an unequal division of housework, not all gendered interactions reinforce inequality. The appropriation of the mainstream heterosexual discourse of gender equality and cultural narrative of the maternal role enable these lesbians to negotiate a balance of power in their intimate relationships.