Even though it’s ten years later, this is still a good question, and the answers may very well have changed since then.
I was never a housewife, in the ‘married to the house’ sort of way. But I did stay home one year each with my two boys when they were born. Because I wasn’t working in the traditional sense, I did take on more of the chores at home during that period. Since I was up early with an infant, I cooked breakfast, and I cooked dinner every day. I did endless loads of washing and swiped the house down with antibacterial wipes regularly throughout the day - mostly due to said infant. Dogs and baby(ies) got a daily walk, dogs got brushed and vacuuming got done during naptime. I continued to do the family finances as I always had, because my scientist husband tended to forget the mundane chores like paying bills until someone called and spoke to him in a very stern manner. 
When hubby got home, he had dinner waiting for him. He ate, then bathed baby and put baby to bed, so the guys would have some time together. I’d load the dishwasher and make a quick trip to the grocery store if needed. I also took out the trash on the way to the garage.
On Saturday, I’d do the yard work (because I enjoyed it and because…absent minded scientist with power tools…), while hubby took baby and dogs to the park.
On Sunday, hubby would take the ‘honey do’ list and I’d be the point person for the baby. Late on Sunday afternoon, we’d usually go someplace as a family (zoo, botanical gardens, etc.)
The only occasionaly bone of contention involved clutter. I’m not a neatnik. I like things clean, but clutter doesn’t bother me until it reaches critical mass. Hubby, on the other hand, was very much a neatnik. So the task of tidying up fell on his shoulders more or less by default.
When I went back to work, we had an in-home nanny/housekeeper who cleaned house and took care of the boys. No, it wasn’t necessarily cheap, but we valued our family time and didn’t want to waste it cleaning up. So we budgeted for it. Whoever had the less stressful day cooked dinner. If we both had heinous days, we’d go out for dinner.
I think, as a modern family with endless committments for either work or kids activities, you really do have to sit down and divide up the household chores. Each should go for their strengths and then negotiate the things no one likes to do, or budget for some help like we did.
My husband has passed away and the kids are grown and gone, but I’m still working a crazy schedule and I sure do wish I still had the help!
