In the Op-Ed piece "The Case for Filth," Stephen Marche suggests a solution to issues like the gender divide that keeps women doing more of the housework than men and even disagreements over what constitutes a household chore: everyone cleaning less. Yet in America as well as in several other countries in the developed world, men's time investment in housework has not significantly altered in nearly 30 years. A recent, large cross-national study on the subject by an Ohio State sociologist found that "Women's housework did not decline significantly and men's housework did not increase significantly after the mid-1980s in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands." In the United States, men's participation in housework topped out at 94 minutes at day in 1998, but by 2003 was down to 81 minutes, not much different than the 76 minutes it was in 1985. So why won't men pick up a broom? Why won't they organize a closet? Why can't housework be converted - as the former burdens of food preparation and child rearing seem to have been for some men - into a source of manly pride and joy? Why would housework be the particular place to stall?
Source: NEW YORK TIMES
Swirl >>
Sydney Opera House launches Own Our House campaign - THE GUARDIAN
House GOP leader Cantor calls on party to adopt a positive agenda - LOS ANGELES TIMES
No comments:
Post a Comment