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An intriguing new study suggests that men are happier and less stressed when they do more of the housework.
Published as part of a new book, the study looks at how household chores are divvied up in families and at how that division of labor affects the well-being and stress of moms and dads. The study scrutinized data collected by the European Social Survey.
Cambridge University researchers Jacqueline Scott and Anke Plagnol suspected that men would be less happy when they took on more of the housework, which they defined as cooking, shopping and cleaning. “Engaging in housework may be more demeaning for men,” they wrote.
So it was a big surprise to them when it turned out that men were actually happier and less stressed when household chores were equally shared by men and women. “Our findings indicate that our expectation is completely wrong,” the researchers wrote in the book, “Gendered Lives: Gender Inequalities in Production and Reproduction."
The researchers were also surprised by the number of dual-income families that shared household chores equally: almost one in five. And another 9 percent reported that most of the housework was being done by men. Nevertheless, Scott and her coauthor found that more than 68 percent of families were still reporting most of the housework being done by women.
When the woman was the breadwinner, more men were stepping up to the plate. A full 22 percent of those households reported that men were doing most of the housework, with 15 percent reporting an equal division, vs. 57 percent where the woman did most of the household chores.
Men, as it turns out, reported more work-family conflict when women did most of the household chores. And their scores for well-being were also lower. Interestingly, the researchers reported, “the well-being of men is significantly reduced when housework is done mainly by women, but this is not the case for women.”
Though there were no data to explain why men were happier and less stressed when doing more housework, the researchers have their theories. “Men who leave the chores to women may be subject to more complaints than men who do their share of home chores,” the researchers suggested. “It is also plausible that some men want a more equitable role in the home and their well-being is reduced when the pressure of their jobs gets in the way.”
Scott and Plagnol suspect that men might be more willing to share housework equally if they knew there were benefits to the arrangement.
“Our study points to wider benefits for men who do their fair share of the housework,” they wrote. “Men today play a far greater role in home and child care than their fathers or grandfathers. It might help change move faster if the benefits of a more equitable divide became more widely known.”
Linda Carroll is coauthor of "The Concussion Crisis: Anatomy of a Silent Epidemic."
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Leave a Comment:
So, does this mean women should be out cutting grass, weedeating, changing oil, fixing the roof leak, washing the cars, changing the light bulbs, moving the furniture around, cleaning the grille, staining the deck, taking out the trash...etc.
The argument that those things need done less is BS too. I have always got something to do around the house. I also throw in a load of laundry every day and pick things up here and there, make the bed and I cook dinner the majority of the time.
Note what the article said. Basically, women complain no matter what because they are spoiled and coddled. They dont feel they should be accountable for anything, yet they feel they are entitled to everything.
Pure genius, this article,....not.
So, if I do something for a person that is a chore, and they are having a hard time getting it done, they will be thankfull.
Really?
Can I ask this question then? Is water wet? Because while we are doing studies to find out stuff we already know, I'd like to add that one in.
Rob, I do much more householdwork than my husband on a day to day basis. Yes he does more outside the house work (sometimes) and I help him a lot with outdoor tasks because I'd rather stain the deck than vacuum. If I added up on a weekly basis how many chores (household or otherwise) we each do, I have many more hours than him. Plus daily household chores are very monotonous compared with other chores. Having to clean the kitchen multiple times a day is way worse than going outside, changing a lightbulb and spending half an hour mowing the lawn.
Remember, the more a husband pisses off his wife, the worse she will make his life. HAPPY WIFE- HAPPY LIFE.
And your last paragraph... really.. all women are spoiled and coddled? Are you that bitter? I am neither.
Perhaps in your house "the woman" doesn't do any of that, but in mine, I do those just as much (with exception to cleaning the grill. He's particular on that.) Who says us women aren't out staining our decks and taking out the trash?
Leslie,
Well, in turn that fact is the same for men...or it should be. Piss off the husband, and he makes your life hell. Of course, most men wouldnt do that because women hold sex hostage. Sex is important to me, but not that damn important. It's 2012...women want equality, I give it to them. By, equal, I mean equal 50/50 opportunity, treatment and responsibility. I expect out of her the same I demand of myself.
But, Im a single father of three boys. Housework is cake. The wahser and dryer do the job for you, dishes take no time at all and you just pus the vacuum. I normally get the house done in about 90 minutes. Trun the TV off, kick on some tunes and get busy sweating...no loafing around.
Also, 30 minutes on the lawn...really? You must have a very small yard. I cut a little over a half acre twice a week. Plus weedeating, sweeping, pulling weeds and tending to the flowerbeds and so on. But then again, I like things clean. So, i was outside windows every two weeks, clean and detail the truck atleast once a week. Nothing is left out in the house. I also work full time and go to school online full time (graduate in August).
Am I bitter? No. Do I seek fairness, yes. If men SHOULD do housework, women should be out cutting grass and up on the roof. Period. Aside from the fact that "some" women do this. The large majority do not. Drive around your neighborhood and see how many women are out in the yard versus men.
Please ladies, tell my wife how to do chores. If I didn't do the dishes at my house they would not get done. I can't even get the old lady to rinse out the milk from the sippy cups before she throws them in the sink for me to take care of. Do you know what it smells like to open an old cup of milk that has been sitting in the sink for a day or two? I do most of the laundry, I cook most of our meals and I take care of all of the outside chores. When she isn't working, what she does for the most part is park her ass on the couch and watch the Real Housewives, the Kardashians and anything else that is a complete waste of brain power. Now she wants to get a pool. I asked her who was going to have to take care of the pool and the answer (as if I didn't already know) was me...
Well, that about says it all, doesn't it? Clearly you have had some experiences that have left you angry and bitter. Thankfully, not all of us have to walk through our lives with such a chip on our shoulders.
This article gave me a chuckle because my boyfriend and I are thinking about moving in together. We've had a discussion about household chores and, you know what? It's not that complicated. Each of us will do what we are either good at or don't hate. This means that I will cook (love to cook) and clean (don't HATE it), and he will keep things nice outside (he loves to work outside) and do the dishes (he doesn't hate it).
I like painting the inside of the house, so that's my job when it comes up. He likes to power wash the deck, so that's his job when it comes up. And so on, and so forth.
The only issue that I can see coming up is laundry and that's because we both hate to do it.
Overall, I think this is an extremely fair arrangement in which both of us are pulling our own weight.
Oh, and I will add that yesterday we decided to work together on some major projects outside and had the best time. And, yes, I'm a woman who was sawing down tree limbs and loved it. Mostly because it was great exercise and it gave us something very productive and rewarding to do together.
Leslie..."HAPPY WIFE- HAPPY LIFE."
Your happiness is not your husband or anyone's responsibility but your own. Too many women, and to be fair, many men, get married thinking the other person or the marriage is going to make them 'happy', as opposed to being mature and looking at it as what happiness can I bring to the marriage.
"It is often difficult to find happiness within ourselves and it is not possible to find it elsewhere." - AU
Hmmm... I am just as likely as my husband to cut the grass. I have NEVER asked anyone else to change a lightbulb for me. We're not car people, so we take our cars in for oil changes. I take out the trash, move furniture by myself (unless it's going up or down stairs, in which case it takes two people). Clean the grill - yup, done it. Fix a roof leak - if it's reachable, yeah, DH probably does it, but we don't have a ladder that reaches much of our roof so we would have to call someone. Stain the deck - nope, I don't do that, but then again neither does DH since it's made of concrete. I also paint (interior and exterior), and we have together installed floors in most rooms of our house. DH does chores, but doesn't seem to realize dishes should be done BEFORE the sink is piled so high you can't get at the faucet. He never notices toilets or showers that need scrubbing, and if left up to him sheets would stay on the bed until they ripped. And yes, we both work full-time outside of the house. @Rob-1647498 - not everyone lives in your Neanderthal world. If you don't like it, what are you doing to effect change?
HS231, you may have over analyzed the "happy wife, happy life" comment a little. Isn't sharing household responsibilities a way to bring happiness into the marriage? Everyone want someone to help take things off their plate.
If I'm happy because my boyfriend did the dishes after I cooked a nice dinner, that does not mean that I'm relying on him to be responsible for my life's happiness. It just means I'm happy I don't have to do the dishes - maybe I can go take a bath and relax or think of something fun for sexy times. And if, as a result of my ability to go do that, my boyfriend has a great meal and a fun night too, what's wrong with that? Isn't that bringing happiness into the situation? Why yes, I believe that it is....
Oh, and Rob, not all women "hold sex hostage." Be a little realistic. If I come home after a long day of work, cook a nice meal and then have to do the dishes and all the cleanup, it's almost 10 when I am done and I've had NO time to relax. If I don't want to have sex at this point it's because I'm tired - not because I'm using it as a weapon. A smart and caring man will help out so that there is time and energy left at the end of the day for fun.
And, to that end, if my boyfriend was pissing me off, then why would I feel like having sex with him at that moment? That's not holding sex hostage - it's normal to not want to have sex with someone who just hurt your feelings or made you angry. If I do something to piss off my boyfriend, he's not going to feel much like having sex either.
The point is, don't be in a relationship that isn't a partnership and if someone is pissing you off to the point where your sex life isn't working, then household chores aren't the real problem.
I never said MY sex life was bad. Im not married and I have a great sex life. My girlfriend wants it more than I do. We dont belive in saying NO to sex. Besides, why say NO.
Rob, you clearly have a terrible life. My husband and I equally share both inside and outside chores. It certainly wouldn't be fair if he was the one able to spend Satruday outdoors cutting the lawn while I was stuck inside doing the dishes. And most women do not hold sex hostage. You obviously need a new woman. But, probably, the problem is you.
Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you are tired, sick, fighting or it's that time of the month? Or, should I believe that you are never tired or sick? Are you in a post menopausal stage of life? Do you never fight?
I don't believe anyone who says they are up for sex ALL the time. That's just not realistic.
My boyfriend and have a lot of sex, almost every day, but there are times one of us is going to "say no," and that is perfectly normal. Women AND men should not be made to feel bad if they just aren't up for it from time to time.
thoughful,
I have a terrific life. Is my life terrible because I have expectations of a woman? Or is that sexist too? How is the problem me? I have a good career, own my own home, raise my children, BBQ every weekend, served my country and Im in great shape.
My point is simply that I never see anyone stating women need to do anything but celebrate being a woman and being empowered (which means to GIVE power). In fact, women can cross into "male" lifestyles and it's empowering, but they can also be feminine and be divas and that is okay too because that is "empowering". In fact, everything women do is considered empowering these days. But, men can only be MEN so long as we dont act out our natural male thoughts or mindset because then that is sexist and immoral. MEN are defined in society by a womans idea of what a man should be.
So, my life isnt terrible. In fact, Im glad I dont have the stereotypical marriage lifestyle (I dont believe in marriage BTW), and me and my GF are happy as can be. She can do as she chooses and I do as I choose. Freedom feels great. So long as bills are paid, house is clean, kids are fed, clothed, educated and having fun..the rest is gravy. In other words, just get it done. If something needs done...do it. You can sleep when you die.
The big difference is that women are unwilling and perhaps unable to give up control of the domicile. When a women does housework, it's housework. When a man does housework, it's housework under the demand and scrutiny of the woman. Men do just the right amount of housework to suit their needs when they are single and are perplexed by the cleaning fetishes and increased schedules of women when they share a house. Who needs the carpet fibers randomized twice a week? The worst part is the forced and maddening scramble to polish up a house for every one of the woman's, but not the man's, visitors.
I'd like to read an article entitled "Gals, you, too, will be much happier if you do less housework. And follow the guys. Really"
I'm a woman and I have no idea what this even means. Thankfully.
Wood floors are the greatest!
Rob, I don't think that there is anything wrong with your life as such. I said that you seem bitter because every word you type sort of drips with disdain. Maybe your girlfriend ignores that? Or you use a different tone with her? I don't know. All I know is that it rings through loud and clear, and though your freedom may make YOU happy sometimes I wonder reading your posts if your girlfriend is TRULY as blissed out as you seem to think she is. Just a thought.
The freshly-vacuumed look is due to the lifting and randomizing the direction of carpet fibers ends so that they stay lifted. When the fibers are flattened, they don't look like a new carpet. Most women prefer the fluffy carpet look and work hard to keep it that way.
Ahh. I learned something today then. I guess I'm not so overzealous but, then again, 95% of the house is wood flooring. Swiffer is my best friend.
Rob-1647498: Clearly you just have a hate-on for women. I think it is sad really, because most women do many of the things you claim they don't do and then some. No woman is perfect. But newsflash: neither are you.
I don't feel that I need to celebrate the fact that I'm a woman any more than you need to celebrate the fact that you're a man. In fact, many times I wonder how much easier my life might be if I were a man. I'm the breadwinner of the family. I have no kids, but I certainly do at LEAST half of the housework. No, I don't take out the garbage most of the time, but I pick up my dog's crap outside. I don't have a deck to stain, but I have floors to clean. Everything is a give and take, and there's no need to hate women or to lump us all in to a category simply because you've had experiences with women that may have felt entitled. I don't hate my spouse because he doesn't clean the toilets, and he doesn't hate me because I don't lug the garbage to the curb every Monday. Neither one of us are entitled just because our body parts may be different. It just doesn't work that way anymore. Perhaps 50 years ago, but I think people have changed for the most part.
By the way, thank you for serving our country. I have a lot of respect for you for doing that, despite the fact you got my womanly back hairs (do I even have back hairs?) up with your mean comments. :)
because that's the only way it'll be done right...
Love the dishwasher they're not using to their right.
LOL! Nice catch.
"Oh dear, we could use the dishwasher, but isn't it so romantic to rub this rag all over this already clean dish?"
Remember that these are correlational studies, which means claims to causation (Doing the dishes causes happiness) are logically unjustified, but may still be nudges in the right direction. For instance, consider this statement:
"Men, as it turns out, reported more work-family conflict when women did most of the household chores. And their scores for well-being were also lower."
Are these effects (high conflict and low well-being) caused by women doing chores? Or is there something else causing those effects and the pattern of women doing the chores? It may simply be the case that demanding jobs cause stress, which causes high conflict and low well-being as well as a lack of time spent at home, which in turn causes the spouse to do the chores. So is doing chores causing happiness, or are they merely co-occurances? You be the judge.
after reading this article, I attempted the logically justified path as well:
the lucky approx. 20% of households where everybody’s happy are simply households where the male is not a jerk. equally maintaining the abode is just an effect, not the cause. when he’s doing more than equal he’s probably un/underemployed.
"Men, as it turns out, reported more work-family conflict when women did most of the household chores. And their scores for well-being were also lower."
Translation : the mood of everyone in the house is dictated by the woman's mood
Men are relieved when women aren't angry about something. That short-lived relief is what increases men's happiness, not doing more chores.
This is too easy...happier marriages make for happier men (and women). When men do some of the housework it frees the women up to spend time with their men, makes them happier, leads to less nagging or women feeling like they are doing it all alone. The men weren't happy because they were doing dishes, they were happy because by doing the dishes they were making their women happier, and the women in turn responded more positively to the men and so forth.
I looked at myself in the mirror wearing a "French Maid" outfit and did not like what I saw.
Well, you don't have to wear any outfit, be it French Maid or electrician, do the laundry naked! It might create the mood for happiness later :).
Maybe it's due to the nature of the interpersonal relationships in shared housework couples vs non-shared housework couples. My husband does a lot of the housework. He is also very involved with our children. Our marriage is exceptionally strong. Perhaps it's simply that the "togetherness" of a couple is expressed in numerous ways, including housework. Happier couples like doing things together and helping one another out.
Great post.
This makes so much sense to me. More hands make for lighter work and more playtime. Who wouldn't want to share responsibilities to free up more time for relaxation, friends, family, play and sex?
What part of the penis is used to do those tasks? I dont understand the whole gender role thing. That is all house work if you ask me. If the garbage disposal breaks or the roof leaks, my guy calls on me to fix it. I do the weed eating, watering landscaping, repairs (electrical, plumbing), heavy lifting (I am stronger), getting the charcoal going on the grill, painting, ect. I am an engineer, so I am expecteded to know how to fix things better than he can.
We share mowing, cooking, taking out the trash and laundry. But when it comes to cleaning, he does more. I have done only a handful of few dishes in the last few years. My tasks may be more complicated and strenuous, but his are more frequent. If you look strictly at the number of hours each of us put in around the house, he probably does more. However, I do work longer hours and pay most the bills. Its all about a parnership. We split the tasks by who would rather do what. Gender had nothing to do with it. Neither of us nag eachother about doing work around the house. We have never argued about housework
According to Forbes magazine, the divorce rate for couples in which a woman earns 20% more money spikes by 40%. Though, if you're not married, it's just a break-up.
Cool I am going to stay home and do the housework. All of the articles tell me that doing house work is worth 100K a year. I'm in! The article should be Men want to be happy do everything and you will be happy. All i know is I trimmed the hedges yesterday for 2 hours in 100 degree heat while my wife cleaned our air condition kitchen. Let's call it even!
It is even. She cleaned the kitchen you made a mess of.
Yes your right, only i eat in the house.
My guy works at night, and when he does just a few things around the house instead of things being "left" for me (such as a sink full of dishes that were NOT there when I left for work that morning) it's a total turn-on for me. And vice-versa. If I come home from work to a sink full of dishes, nothing straightened up, no load of towels thrown in the washer, etc. and I now have to do those things after working all day, the last thing I'm thinking of is stripping down & having sex with my man, whether I WANT to or not. And that (sex) is not some type of bargaining chip or anything, I just seem to be happier and more "in the mood" when I don't come home from work to a list of chores to do by myself (now that he has to leave for work). When we can both give AND take, things seem to flow better and we're both usually pretty happy. And satisfied ; )
My dad used to tell me... if momma is not happy, nobody is happy
All kidding aside I think most couples find ways to get things done and are generally happy. Articles likes this play to a crowd which is ok.
This seems like a no brainer to me: households where everyone pitches in encourage comeraderie and of course a women who isn't doing all of the chores will be in a better mood in general. And though happiness comes from within, when other members of your family are glad to be alive in general, it does make being happy a bit easier. I think chores can actually be a great time for families to bond and hang out whether its dishes or leaf raking or deck staining. It also sets a great work ethic and example for children of both genders if everyone pitches in on "women's work" and "men's work".
I will say this, Rob. Though I agree with some of what you say on principle, your basic tone sort of drips venom and bitterness. I bet you got stung badly, but it's time to let go and stop projecting your ex onto everything you see with two x chromosomes. A lot of us enjoy pitching in and want our spouses to do the same. :)
I am retired, my wife had a major stroke two years ago, and I find myself being a caregiver and doing most of the housework.
I can truly say that I am happier, and feel more fulfilled than ever.
I have helped with house work and cooking most of our marriage and I don't find it to be a problem.
Absolute "BS" article!! Believe me, I've been doing chores for years and have seen her, "YES I SAID, HER!" attitude go from "thank-you" to "why should I have to do it if you do it!" I, and the rest of men, need a wife with a better attitude and upbringing, maybe a traditional filipina instead of an american be-atch!!!
Gosh, with that kind of attitude I'm surprised you don't have women falling at your feet every day to do some chores.
Maybe you should get a divorce and move on...you'll both probably be happier.
Cracks up.....PH-3046605, I was thinking exactly the same thing....."wow if I were this man's wife I'd just be dying to have sex with him too!" ;) Granted, a woman should appreciate you doing chores and thank you, but I also wonder how often you thank HER. Also you just called your wife a bitch....that would make anyone surly.
@Go_Obama!, exactly! Please and thank you's make the world a better place. Calling your wife a bitch, not so much.
Exactly, and how many men thank their wives for working full time jobs and bringing home paychecks which is TRADITIONALLY the man's job!
Relationships are partnerships and partnerships prosper with communication and effort on everyone's part. When my husband and I were first married we both worked full time and lived in an apartment. There was no yard work. house repairs, etc for him and he does not fix or wash our cars. I did all the chores because he said things weren't dirty to him. It took years of communication and talking about what we feel is fair but we now share chores in a way that we feel works. If either of us feels overwhelmed or stressed we help each other out. I think people should focus less on what gender is doing what chore and just find a way of working that keeps everyone satisfied.
It would be nice if housework were a SEASONAL chore, such as YARDWORK, but unfortunately housework is never-ending. My husband has consistently told me that if I need help with the housework, all I have to do is ask. Funny - he doesn't ask me to get up every morning to help him earn money to provide for the financial stability of the household and the family. What's even "funnier" is that my name isn't the only name on the damn deed. Being born with a vag doesn't mean doing housework if an automatic given. Women did housework because-newsflash-THEY DIDN'T WORK OUTSIDE THE HOUSE! And, logically speaking, that provided a conducive environment in which to do the housework, right? If your wife works outside the home, you husbands should jump in and do housework!
Apparently you dont live in Texas where cutting grass is all year long. LOL!!
HA! Or in the Northeast where if it isn't grass, it's snow and ice! I hate shoveling snow. I will cook my BF whatever he wants AND clean up if he just makes it so I don't have to take care of it.
There's always something to do - I don't see how lawn mowing is the end-all-be-all to outside chores.
Im certainly not bitter. I'm just wondering where all the articles are that suggest women should be contributing to the "other" chores. All everyone talks about is what men should do, and how men need to make women happy and how men need to understand women. Notice in ALL of these articles (just look around the internet) that washing cars, cutting grass, home repairs and so on are never mentioned. Why is that? Where are the articles on what women need to do to make men happy?
Well, if such an article existed it would be highly stereotypical. In other words, men are just simple creatures incapable of having any expectations of their women besides keeping my belly full and my balls empty...right? Hardly not. I appreciate a woman who can mirror my output. Good career, ambitious, in shape, responsible and not afraid to get her hands dirty.
Logic normally spells it out. Let's look at what our eyes see. How many women (on average) are doing all or even some of the outside chores? Very few. My girlfriend has never cut the grass or washed her car (she doesnt want to do it). I do it and I am quite fine doing it for her so long as she doesnt think it is sexist for me to expect the house to be clean when Im done outside (and she doesnt think like that). But, that isnt the case in our society. At least not what the media and feminists put out to the public.
How often do you mow the grass, Rob? Three times a day, 24/7/365? That's how often a kitchen needs cleaned. Halfway through June, Rob, our grass went brown and is now dormant. No more mowing for another year! So, what, my husband doesn't have to do anything until then except get up, go to work, come home, channel surf for 5 hours all the while complaining there isn't sh!t on T.V, and then go to bed? Really Rob, is that what you think? Really??? That the "little woman" should take care of everything else that directly impacts not just her world but YOURS as well, and that's just how it should be? Does your girlfriend work outside the home, Rob? Would you be okey dokey if your girlfriend told you she quit her job in order to stay home to take care of you and do all the housework so you don't have to strain your precious widdle piddies doing anything in the house. Answer honestly now, Rob!
You can pick up any women's magazine - from Cosmo to Seventeen - and read tons are articles about everything women should be doing to find a man, keep a man and make him happy. Trust me, they exist.
But, your post makes a ton of sense. I love that my boyfriend likes to do yard work. It's not my thing (unless we are doing it together - then I think it's fun). I don't find it offensive that he would expect me to clean the house. I think that's a fair trade.
And, despite the sensationalism put out by the media, I would guess that a lot of healthy relationships are the same. I think situations like ours are the norm.
Misty,
I live in Texas...its not seasonal. You will cut grass regularly here until around December and all through winter on occasion until it grows again in February and you are back to twice a week. Haha.
Number two, I have no children with my girlfriend. I have custody of my three sons and have had them for 8 years. I cut grass twice a week, do laundry, dishes, vacuum, water the plants, pick the weeds, clean my truck and HER car, pay the bills, clean the garage, take out trash...etc. I also work a full time federal law enforcement job and go to school full time online.
I dont expect my gf to do anything I dont ask of myself. So, since I expect that of myself, I expect it of her too. If Im up and cleaning, she shouldnt be sitting on her rear. I rarely sit down to relax until late, Im a busy body and I like it that way. My house is always clean, my yard looks nice and my vehicles are maintained in A-1 shape. In regards to general indoor chores, well, dont give me that mess about it being hard. It's cake. Just get up and do it. It takes me about 90 minutes to clean a 2200 sq. ft. home. Try turning off the TV and talking on the phone and move with a sense of urgency.
Rob, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. You sound bitter and sexist. You sound like you have some serious issues with women. You saying that you don't have problems with women won't change the fact that every post is dripping with misogyny. Do you have a daughter? If you don't want her to end up with an abuser you need to change your outlook on women. I don't know who made you feel stripped of power or damaged your ego, but you need to fix it or your sons are going to be as bitter and misogynistic as you. How many people have to tell you this before the light bulb gets bright? Why does happy women make you feel like life is unfair? Why does that threaten something in you so that you have to say such hateful things about how easy women have it vs men. What has made you feel that way? Is that really representative of the average household or just your experience that you are generalizing to everybody. I come from a female dominated family because the men won't step up to the plate. Should I then say that every man in this society is weak minded and lazy? Of course not. I am just saying that your posts are not the posts of a man that has a healthy outlook on women. Perhaps that is not your goal.
Ah yes, MSNBC....keeping archaic gender expectations alive and well.. Viva sexism and weak stabs at veiled misandry!!
"...As I man I used to live in depression and hoarded squalor. because being single, I had no woman to do my housework...until this eye-opening MSNBC article taught me that I too have what it takes to do housework.....and all this time I was brought up to think my penis would get in the way of mopping the floor! I can't wait to tell my buddies at the bar in between darts, farts, and adultery....I hope they don't think I'm gay because I have entered the year 2012 and do a little house cleaning. They may just joke about it and get me a silly Hallmark apron that says something "cutesy" like "Look out, there is a man cleaning: not responsible for broken items and wet spots"
Somewhere a woman actor, filming a new commercial for a house-cleaning product, stands with her hands on her hips shaking her head in dramatized dismay over 's the penned idiocy of the man in her life. "Missed a spot" is her only line.
Next.
This "study" has it completely upside-down...
Men aren't happier because they do more housework. They do more housework because they're happier to begin with.
Men who feel good about themselves, their mate, and their family are more likely to contribute to taking care of the household chores. It's rather obvious that if you don't have good well being, you're not going to be motivated to keep on top of these things - whether man or woman. Yet another "study" to discover the obvious.
Hey, I help with housework and it makes my wife happy, which in turn makes me happy. Works out well, huh? In the fall, she teaches on Saturday mornings. So, when she gets up, so do I. I clean house for about 2.5 - 3 hours while she's a work. She comes home, the house is clean and I get to watch football non-stop all weekend and she's thrilled. It really isn't that big of a deal.
So, the author's suspected getting a result that turns out completely the opposite. Just goes to show they don't know squat to be writing a book about anything.
I would be happier if these people would quit with these stupid studies trying to tell others what to do with their lives. I say others because they sure as hell are not going to tell me what to do or not do. Go get a real job.
It is just plain stupid to make a general assumption that guys would be happier by doing more housework. A guy's participation in housework or any type of work is based on how lazy he is, pure and simple and the same goes for any women partner, if there is one.
Get in the kitchen and do what you do best.... stop writing books about something you know nothing about and go baked me a pie woman!!!
Men are happier if they do more of the housework because they're wives will stop complaining about having to do it.
The wives will stop complaining they have to do ALL of it! Get over yourself Rick!
If you have to do all of it then maybe your husband is a poor excuse for a man but you chose him so that's your fault. I do most of the chores in my household and work and go to school and pay most of the bills. At the end of the day women still find something to complain about. Get over yourself Misty!
If both spouses care about the other.. they won't sit idly by while the other is slaving away. If they don't care about it other, they should've stuck to dating or dropped the realtionship, altogether.
Best comment I saw above was where both do what they are good at and/or like, and they split the things either can do and neither are crazy about.
Also good to step in and offer a hand when the other seems to be having a difficult time.
And make it fun when you work together. Keep the relationship the most important and the chores will seem less like chores.