This chapter explores the actual division of professional and family labour in EU countries and some other OECD countries. By means of some basic indicators that were formerly developed for Flanders/Belgium, we show the general development in different (types of) countries from the strong male breadwinner model in the period 1950-70 to a moderate combination model in the period 1985-2005. These models can be compared with similar models presented by other researchers, for example Crompton (1999) and Gornick and Meyers (2003).

In the first section we start with a wider historical perspective, illustrating the general development since 1850. In fact, this can be seen as the long development from the ‘old combination model’ or ‘survival model’ in the 18th and 19th century to the traditional breadwinner model in the 20th century, as shown in Figure 1.1 (Vanhaute, 1997a, 1997b, 2002; Van Dongen, 1993; Van Dongen et al, 2001, Van Dongen and Danau, 2003).

The second section explores a general historical model for the period 1950-2005, covering three historical periods or partial models. This analysis is based on two general indicators presented in a graphical way: total activity rate and average number of hours of professional and family labour of men and women, both for the total groups and for the different age groups. These data show that the empirical model is applicable in all countries of the western world. At the same time, the gradual differences between the (types of) welfare states will be shown.

In the third section, the actual development in the period 1985-2005 is illustrated by means of some complementary indicators: general labour situation of the male and female population, general division of the main activities, professional activity rates of men and women by age group, division of the number of hours of professional labour, family labour, leisure time and personal care, average number of hours by age group of professional labour, family labour, leisure time and personal care and some other aspects of the working time of men and women (temporary work, shift work, night work, Sunday work and working at home). The combination of the indicators gives a differentiated picture of the evolution of the division of professional and family labour in western countries, which is compatible with the longer-term picture in the first sections.