Who Takes Out the Garbage? Dividing Household Chores

You’d think after decades of an economy that depends on two incomes to float a family, that how a couple can work together to keep house would be common knowledge. You’d think. But old role definitions and stereotypes about who should do household chores die hard — very hard. Couples who see themselves as egalitarian and modern in their thinking are sometimes astonished to find themselves fighting regularly about such things as who should do the dishes, pick up the living room, and be sure that each has a clean shirt for tomorrow. Things have improved over the last 30 years. A survey by the Pew Research Center indicated that while in 1990, 47% of Americans surveyed thought sharing household chores is important for a successful marriage, in 2007 that number increased to 62%. Recent studies found that compared to their fathers, men have nearly doubled the amount of housework they do. None the less, women are still doing most of the household chores even when they have a full-time job. Often, they handle it by cutting down on sleep, then blame fatigue for their inability to get everything done. On their end, men often report feeling underappreciated for what they do and pressure to do more. Is who does what (and how many) household chores necessarily the cause of dissension? Not for everyone. Every couple who is content has figured out a “deal” about who does the laundry and who takes out the garbage. So long as both agree, truly agree, about the distribution of la...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Communication Marriage and Divorce Relationships Cohabitation Expectations Gender Roles Household Chores Mutual Respect Source Type: blogs