Women have less time to spend on themselves than men do because they spend more time doing daily chores and household tasks.
In fact, men spend almost twice as long each week on “hobbies, computing and games” as women.
That is according to a survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics.
Daily tasks such as housework and childcare are still predominantly being carried out by women.
The report stated that “when not in leisure, women were more likely to be performing unpaid work”.
It adds: “Our definition of unpaid work describes activities that members of households perform for their own, or other, households for free, but that could be contracted out to a market service provider.
“This may include activities such as childcare, adult care, volunteering or housework.”
On average, women spend 26 hours a week carrying out unpaid work, compared to men who spend 16 hours.
Men spent more time than women in almost every category of leisure pursuits, including games, sports, TV, films and newspapers.
Women spent more time socialising, and slightly more on cultural activities such as art, music and theatre.
Professor Margaret Hogg, of Lancaster University Management School, said: “There are lots of men who help now, but the prime responsibility for family life, for knowing what’s for dinner and what’s on the shopping list, still lies with women.
“It’s also about freedom. You can’t turn your phone off and disappear to a golf course, and if you’ve committed to be the goalie for the hockey match, then you’re committed, so you can’t be the back-up in case the child falls off the swing. Many women still carry that sense of responsibility with them.”
