Mrs M
yoda76PULL YOUR WEIGHT MEN…NOT THE OTHER THING
June 28th 2007 04:18
So the results of the census came out yesterday and it seems like not much has changed in the way of household chores. Dishes still need to be done and laundry needs to be put away but men are still turning a blind eye.
In this smh.com.au article, it says that:-
The average woman does between 5-14 hours a week of domestic work.
More than one third said they do more than 15 hours.
Less than one third said they do less than 5 hours.
53% of men do less than 5 hours or none.
Only 12% said they do more than 15 hours.
Now before anyone throws the whole ‘well more women are at home than men’ your argument is flawed. There are more women in the work force than ever before and the census showed that teenage males are lazier than teenage females. It’s genetic…and maybe a bit of a social ill.
40% of male teenagers (aged 15-19) did no housework.
29% of female teenagers did no housework.
Though there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Men over 65 do more of their share; on par with the average woman.
See, who said nagging doesn’t work
In this smh.com.au article, it says that:-
The average woman does between 5-14 hours a week of domestic work.
More than one third said they do more than 15 hours.
Less than one third said they do less than 5 hours.
53% of men do less than 5 hours or none.
Only 12% said they do more than 15 hours.
Now before anyone throws the whole ‘well more women are at home than men’ your argument is flawed. There are more women in the work force than ever before and the census showed that teenage males are lazier than teenage females. It’s genetic…and maybe a bit of a social ill.
40% of male teenagers (aged 15-19) did no housework.
29% of female teenagers did no housework.
Though there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Men over 65 do more of their share; on par with the average woman.
See, who said nagging doesn’t work
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Comment by Candice
Comment by David
They obviously didn't survey my ex, and they certainly didn't survey me for this one.
Na, it was fun being married to a nutritionist who couldn't cook, and thought stoves, kitchen floors and benchtops, fridges, crockery and cutlery were all self-cleaning items, and pots & pans etc put themselves away afterwards.
At least we had a couple of things in common; a love of reading and technology. She knew that TV guide inside out, and how to control that remote.
I'm sure she thought the vacuum-cleaner was a Dalek.
I'm envious of this post.
David (of Where's My Spoon).
Comment by David
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Mr M is pretty good too. I have been a stay home mum for 6 years now but this year since my writing is starting to take up more and more of my time Mr M does have to step up to the plate and do a little bit more. And he doesn't object...which I suppose is the real issue here.
I do more housework here at home but if I need help, Mr M doesn't pull that whole "well I worked all day honey and I'm tired" rubbish.
And you raise a good point about both partners working full time.
But I'll tell you this, my sons will not be part of that 40% that do nothing. That would drive me nuts.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Is it in the dishwasher?
Na, it was fun being married to a nutritionist who couldn't cook, and thought stoves, kitchen floors and benchtops, fridges, crockery and cutlery were all self-cleaning items, and pots & pans etc put themselves away afterwards.
I thought you'd like the title
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by David
Yep. Enjoyed the title and the post.
You know what makes what I wrote so funny? It's true.
David ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
And here I thought the other thing was a leg...
Interesting.
My daughter is part of the 29% but that's about it.
I do more domestic work than my husband because he's away Mon-Fri.
...but when he's home...well..he has better time management skills and I'm pedantic.
He taught me how to iron.
And how to execute a perfect knife edge shuto.
...but still can't get me to learn how to cook.
Not that he tries because he enjoys cooking for the crowd that is our household.
...but then the children all cook.
Thank goodness or I'd starve or we'd be eating takeaway pizzas very night.
The cooking gene bypassed me.
Unfortunately not the eating gene.
I am fortunate that I enjoy doing all the domestic crap....but no longer wash my over 18s' clothes.
Nor their girlfriends and all the other friends clothes that somehow manage to end up in the laundry baskets.
I still iron their clothes because they just...don't do it properly and I have a thing about double lines and 'shiny-ness'. And I love ironing my husband's shirts.
I do have to
nagrepeatremind 2 of the boys to do chores but one son is an apprentice chef so cleaning up after himself comes naturally.The eldest now lives with his girlfriend and a flatmate...and my spy (his girlfriend!) tells me it's smooth sailing.
Although the guys won't clean the bath. What's up with that?
I know my boys are not part of that 40%.
....but I still prefer to do most of the domestic work. I'm fortunate because I work from home so I don't have to 'waste' precious family time on weekends or at night.
And I don't want my husband to anything (except cook!) when he's home because I'm the one who has the luxury of being at home, even though I work full-time.
I hope you understand what i mean by that. I'm not saying staying at home is a luxury...but it is for me because I don't have young children and I don't have to go out of the house to work (well i do but...not a daily grind).
As for over 65 men....my 75yo father-in-law is so self sufficent and independant but he has been like this all his life.
My mother-in-law whom I love dearly...well...she doesn't do much.
Her 75yo husband (the inlaws are divorced) is the one who does everything and he too has always done so (...believe the first wife was too 'fragile'..??)
...my husband is the way he is because of his father.
And I believe that my boys are the way they are because of their father and my
whipinability to cook thereby breaking a stereotype.So...attitudes are changing and have changed.
Unless you're a kid who falls for the surrender hype.
...because you are the way you are and Mr M is the way he is...your boys will definitely not be part of that 40%.
Then again...my mum is a wonderful cook...and I burn water....and I'm a clean freak and my daughter lives in a pigsty...at least she can cook. Her partner/husband won't have to do everything all the time.
Oh shoot. Sorry Mrs M..this is a bloody essay.
David darlin'...truth is funnier than fiction...
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Read the title and began to wonder.
Why does there have to be a choice?
Why can't we do both?
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I completely understand what you mean about being at home and doing most of the domestic work...I had the exact same thoughts when I became a stay-at-home mum...I just underestimated how much the little buggers can suck your will.
And I have to admit, I really am over loading and unloading the dishwasher and how I would love for the laundry basket to be empty for half a day.
I've heard of a theory (that your family seems to fit) that if you love to cook you hate to clean and vice versa. I'll happily cook...
I enjoyed your essay Dusk.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
And it only takes 65 years.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Are men good time managers?
Hi yoda,
It worked didn't it?
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
Sure. And I shall proceed to ignore you for the next 35 years.
Comment by Aimzster
Health and Beauty
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
Luckily, my hubby's probably in the 12% of men who do appox 15 hours of housework a week. I'm the one who gets reprimanded for being messy and lazy. I come home from work to hear him vacuuming or washing the dishes. I guess I got lucky I married a neat-freak!
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
You have done well my dear.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Lana Marie
Youth Parenting
I absolutely loved this post!
It explains why my 66-year-old grandfather helps my grandmother in the kitchen!
My partner helps me a little, but I think he'd still be in the 53 per cent of men who do less than 5 hours
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
This post reminded me of what comedienne Wanda Sykes said: "Guys won't wash a dish. It doesn't bother them. Women will come home and see it and immediately think, 'I suppose he thinks it's MY job to wash that dish! Well, I'm not gonna!'
So it becomes a battle without words. The woman gets angrier every day that she comes home and finds more unwashed dishes in the sink.
The man is happily unaware of this angst and goes on using every available dish in the house till there are no clean ones left.
When he tries to get romantic with the woman one night, he is surprised at her anger: 'Get away from me, you! Leave me alone!'
'Why honey, what's the matter?' (He honestly has no clue)..and the woman hits him with her zinger:
'Maybe if I go sleep in the sink you'll leave me alone!' "
Classic example of the difference between men and womens' perceptions of things..
Great post!
D.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Hi D,
Thank you for your kind words D. Really appreciate it.
The man is happily unaware of this angst and goes on using every available dish in the house till there are no clean ones left.
But I agree, there is nothing sexier than a man cleaning my mess...and his.
Thanks for the visit ladies.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Andrea
Diet and Health
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I'm with Lana Marie on this as well as I have very strong territorial instincts that kick in whenever certain jobs need to be done. It doesn't help that my husband always puts things away in the wrong place as well.
I will give credit where it's due, though, he is quite good around the house ... I haven't had to clean the bathroom in months and he wields the vacuum cleaner like a lethal weapon, sucking up everything in his path. He's also very thorough, not giving up on a job until it's perfect.
He's also resigned himself to the fact that I do not iron so he has no choice, he has to do that himself.
The statistics from the census were frustrating but not unexpected. Part of the problem is that we women love to have something to complain about, so we go out of our way to do everything around the house then masochistially take pleasure in feeling hard done by. Since Mac was born I've been forced to give over some of the chores I used to hoard and force myself not to feel guilty about watching my husband do them instead. I just don't have the time anymore.
I was always determined not to end up like my mother. She lives with my father who is of the opinion and the generation that believes that women should do all the housework. He has broadened his opinions a little since my brother and I left home but when I was growing up it seemed as if my mum (and then me but not my brother) was expected to do everything.
Have a wonderful weekend Mrs M.
A. xx
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Mr M is not so thorough, that's not to say he doesn't give it a red hot go but sometimes I think he subscribes to the 'that'll do' philosophy. He's not about to kill himself for housework. There are other things he'd rather be doing.
But Mr M is consistent, so I can rely on him for that.
I'll try to have a good weekend...getting over a cold.
Hope your weekend is snuggling up to your family...especially Mac. I hope the cold is too brutal for her.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Andrea
Diet and Health
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Mr M sounds just like my daughter ... cleaning your bedroom is so much easier when you can just stuff everything under your bed!
Hope your cold is better soon.
A.
PS No, of course my daughter doesn't take after me ... honest!!
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I`m embarrassed to admit that the first time I did laundry was when I was 21... and we only used to do chores on the weekends.
I`m a very untidy person... it`s just who I am... drives all around me nuts. I can iron and cook though so I guess I`m not a complete failure as a domesticated woman.
My mission is clear.... do better by my children. I shall raise them as clean freaks, neat as a pin and able to tidy up a storm....
I lived with teenage boys when I was in England. Me with 4 boys? Yeah not cool! For some reason they cannot clean baths ~ I hear you Dusk~
ash
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
and we only used to do chores on the weekends.
You know I clean because it is habitual, I'm sure of it. So I like your thinking about your boys....they'll have no trouble finding a partner when they grow up.
I can't believe you lived with 4 boys and didn't kill.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by tlcorbin-raginravensview
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Sleezer's World
The survey is biased and flawed.
We learn to do these things because we can't hear the nagging any more and we still need the cleanest of our underwear and clear access the refrigerator or toilet.
So, of course we're gonna help out, but it's strictly a survival matter.
Raven
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
But Mr M is consistent, so I can rely on him for that.
*whimper*
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Poor yoda!
What I meant is that I know that you'll load the dishwasher and turn it on, put on a load of dirty laundry but you won't clean the toilet will you ?
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
As a sex therapist by trade... for the last 20 years...here is some inside info...
1. Men.....no helping no sex
Okay that's it......
Duhhhhhhhhh
20 years of practice to learn that?
Mis
PS loved the post and loved the comments btw
Oh a shout to dusk...When my over 18 son had his girlfriends thongs mixed in with his clothes...last day I washed his clothes. He lives on his own but I had to draw the line there!
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Do you hear that one men?
Thanks Mis
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Anonymous
So you women out there dont need it huh?
just turn the switch off like that?
or is this when affairs come in to play?
Hence Australia disgraceful divorce rate.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Hi second Anon,
Love & stuff
Mrs M