This study addresses open questions about the short
-term declining trajectories of partners’
satisfaction with their relationship following the
birth of the first child. In particular, it focuses
on
the effect of reconciling family and work on the pa
rtners’ relationship. Using the Household,
Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) pan
el survey waves from 2001 to 2009, it
analyses a representative sample of couples, follow
ed for three years from the year of the first
pregnancy. I model changes in partners’ relationshi
p satisfaction for both women and men with
piecewise linear growth models. Looking at the inte
raction between the adjustment of the couple
along the family and work dimensions, and at the di
fficulties caused by parenthood to women’s
work trajectories, I find gendered paths towards th
e change in relationship satisfaction: while
adopting a traditional division of gender roles wor
ks in favour of fathers’ maintenance of a
satisfactory relationship with the partner, the sam
e path reduces the mother’s relationship
satisfaction. At the same time, the couple’s abilit
y to share experiences, tasks and attitudes seems t
o
compensate for the great differences in women’s and
men’s chances of enjoying parenthood, a
loving relationship and the labour market. In a con
text that especially generates gender inequality in
the transition to parenthood, as the Australian pro
-natalist policy system seemed to do before its
2009 reform, these results raise questions for poli
cy makers.