Why do men do so little around the house? Why do women shoulder almost all of the child-rearing responsibilities? Why, even in families where both men and women work full-time and both seem to agree on a fair division of labor, do women's contributions still outweigh men's? In an era of feminist activism, education, and change, women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of parenting, regardless of their background, class, or professional status.

Darcy Lockman explores the root of this pervasive inequality. Relying on male partners to share the burden, women today are left with what political scientists call unmet and growing expectations. Beginning with her own marriage as the epicenter of her research, Lockman moves on, describing the experiences of a wide range of women raising children with men; visiting groups of young mothers and co-parenting specialists; and interviewing experts in various academic fields, from gender studies professors and anthropologists to neurologists and primatologists.