"Addressing Gender Bias in School Communication: Finding Solutions Beyond Calling Mothers First"

A new research paper reveals that schools are more likely to call mothers than fathers, highlighting the gender imbalance in household responsibilities. The study conducted a large-scale field experiment where emails were sent to school principals from fictitious two-parent heterosexual families, and it was found that 59% of the time when a call was made, it was made to the mother. The research also shows that women continue to do a disproportionate share of caregiving and household work, even when earnings are equal. The study suggests that schools and childcare centers should ask parents who should be contacted first, and families should consider whether the current household work allocation is working for them and discuss potential changes.