He also notes, however, that the same studies which show that women do all this "extra" work also happen to show that men average 14 hours a week more than women in the workplace, and suggests that it would be much more fair for the husbands of the world to go on strike until they are more appreciated for what they do.

Oh please.

You live together in a home, you keep it up together. I'm sure you're teaching that to your son.

You are, aren't you?

Ara,

Just do the math.

Yours,
Wince

I am teaching my son, as I will teach all my children, that there is nothing wrong with a sensible division of labor--and that neither men nor women should ever be shortchanged or demeaned for what they do.

I hope you're teaching your children the same thing. :-)

I wonder what the difference is between working husbands and working wives in the area of lawn/garden care and general household repairs. I may do most of the housework, but my husband does most of the other.

A couple of guys at my work deliberately work late so they can avoid their cranky/sick/hyperactive kids and the associated chores.

I think my husband and I are in a desperate race to see who can do the least around here. If we can hire someone to do the work for us, we do. It is the only way to keep the peace.

I remember when I was a medical resident, trying to vacuum our house in Iowa City in 100 degree heat and 99% humidity, having spent the preceding 24 hours working. I sat down, exhausted, on the floor and vowed never to do it again. So I got up, called Merry Maids and never looked back. We weren't making that much then, but that money was well-spent. Now we have a higher-than-average income, but to me that has meant more freedom as opposed to more stuff. So, much of our income still goes to pay someone who wants to paint, clean, mow lawns or cook a hell of a lot more than we want to.

One of the financial magazines had an article about when it pays to do the work yourself and when it doesn't, based on your income. It was really surprising to find out how very quickly it pays to hire out these tasks- with lawn mowing the first to go. Interestingly, they said you'd have to make over $130,000 a year for it to be worthwhile for you to hire out your tax preparation.

"By the way, Glenn's also one of the only national commenters to ever note in his columns that men suffer a rate of workplace injuries about ten times higher than women, and that the overwhelming majority of fatal injuries in the workplace are men. Or that men often work more hours per week for the same amount of pay as women who work fewer hours."

Actually, the tit-for-tat feminist analysts have got that one covered. I don't remember where I read it--I don't think it was on-line, but I'll look for a link--but you see, when you study pink-collar clerical ghettos, you find that they're filled with artificial-fiber carpets, plastic work surfaces, and high-tech paints that *offgas*, giving working women headaches and eczema. Not kidding at all. Apparently, when we count these as workplace injuries (don't even ask about the dodgy survey instrument), women are injured on the job just as frequently. I don't think even the authors of that one had the temerity to imply that HDP causes death, though.

I recall an article addressing the workload division issue.
It appears that the self-reporting of chores differs. For example: A woman reports she drove the family to grandma's house. A man says they went to grandma's house.
He does not report the driving as work, she does.
BTW. Yard work is therapeutic.

I think there should be the different standards. I know what I consider clean, some SO's have considered filthy, or at least insufficiently clean. So, would a 30% factor be about right there?

So, tell the men to stay home and vacuum. No man ever hurt himself pushing a vacuum. However, I know a few that have gotten hurt NOT pushing one.

I'm just saying...

I agree with Leo about the standard of cleanliness. My hubby and I have a very different standard. For the life of me I have tried to adapt to his, "It's fine, really, it's clean enough." It ain't gonna happen.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my father was a drill sargeant or that I like that lemoney fresh smell or that he's content until that stack of papers actually falls on him. I don't know.

I will note that his tools, instruments, cords, gadgets, etc. are and MUST be stored just so and cleaned JUST so. Maybe there really isn't a double standard? It's a bit crazymaking...

Just curious, does that study take into account whom does what yardwork? I know for a fact that, aside from watering 6 outside plants, everything outside the walls is my responsibility. Cutting, trimming, pruning, etc. I'd gladly trade the outside v. inside chores except my wife wouldn't do a good job with the lawn. I let her do 4 strips with the mower and it didn't pass muster.

P.S. I do the vast majority of the cooking because I like edible food.

P.P.S. I heart my wife. She does keep a damn clean house as opposed to myself. I just like it organized. I'm fine with a little dust, as long as it's uniformly spread over the TV screen.

I do both the indoor and the outdoor work. I like doing it. When I'm tired or I just don't want to I'll ask Dean to mow the lawn or whatever I need. He'll do what I ask him to do. Otherwise, I do it.

I like my home a certain way and I find that it's just easier to do it myself. The yardwork is relaxing for me. I like to be outdoors. What can I say?

I hate yard work. Always have. I also have lower standards for cleanliness than my wife.

Then again I work full time and do school full time. Also used to drink full time. Really, living three lives is such a chore...

When did we come to the point in a marriage where people are clocked and measured by the amount of housework and yardwork they do?

Good ever loving gravy. We came home tonight after riding around in the boat. While my husband spent .457 hours breading fish, I came in at a cool .379 hours slicing the potato side dish.

Shamefully, I checked my email while the potatoes cooked in the oven, leaving my husband frying fish for an additional .248 hours.

Knowing that I was well behind, I was careful to spend .326 hours putting the children to bed. Thank God we got that all sorted out!!

I submit to you that the entire idea of making sure everyone is doing their part at every moment of everyday is a crazy making phenom.

That's not life, it's a time clock in place of happiness and joy.

Good point, Lana. Really, it sounds more like kids arguing than a loving partnership. But ultra-feminists only see it as that. They want "equality" but throw out "partnership." Love doesn't judge... feminists do.

Fortunately my wife and I have about equal tolerances for mess and dirtiness. I tend to pick up after us with little neatness things continuously, and she usually freaks out and does more major cleaning before I do (she actually can stand it maessier than I can by a bit, but I REALLY hate chores from doing them as a child, which she didn't, and I have stronger will power to resist the urge to clean!)

Oh, come on - if the chicks went on strike for housework, 90% of men wouldn't notice unless there was something in front of the TV or fridge (and this would result in just shoving it out of the way). Lets face the fact that if it wasn't for women, we'd still be living in caves rolling around in our own literal shit - do a poll of men and find out how many of them know (a) what a swag is and (b) if they've ever bought one outside of the direction of a woman...

David,

My little annoyance is clutter - which comes out as a running battle about how many "nick nacks" should be sitting on top of surfaces; the Mrs does the major cleaning, but I'm the one who straightens up on a daily basis...

Last night my wife wasn't home so I ate pasta from the pot so as not to have a dirty plate to clean. My wife came home in the middle and tried to "rescue" me, and I had to convince her that I sincerely think a plate is unnecessary (as a bachelor, I had one plate, very rarely used).
In addition, since being married, I have NEVER thought to myself: "This floor/carpet/countertop/blanket/sheet/bathroom sure could use some cleaning!" (as a bachelor this would happen roughly once a year).
It's things like these that prevent housework strikes from having any chance of success.

What Lana said.

Yep. Feminists polemicists who are likely un-married definitely represent most married women. Yep.

Who exactly are you saying, "You're welcome" to, Dean, and who do you represent?

Maybe I don't want to be married after all. Married people are whiners.

You're welcome, breeders!

Hear hear, Dean!

Hey you guys? We appreciate you!! If you want your woman to echo that statement, tell her how much you appreciate her, even for the littlist thing. She might not catch on immediately, but keep it up; she will eventually and will reciprocate.

Mutual appreciation is what makes a marriage hum and grow sweeter year after year after year. I don't have this experience first hand (I'm only on year #3 with mine) but that's the common thread in longtime couples who are still crazy about each other. Put the damn calculator away and appreciate what is being brought to the table. Never take each other for granted.

Ah, the humorously sterotypical slovenly, clueless male. I've lived on my own for about three years now. I cook my own meals from scratch, bake bread, clean the house, empty the litterbox, hang pictures, paint, etc. I haven't bought any swags lately, but I did help my new neighbor restring her traverse rods. Does that count? :)

If one person in the marriage is doing significantly more work, then it's a problem for that couple to solve. Why does "society" give a shit?