question about household labor for lesbians and gays?

Question

this is for school. please say if you are either lesbian or gay.
only answer if you are homosexual please.

who do you expect will do child rearing (if there are children), paying bills, cooking, auto maintenance, house cleaning, yard maintenance, laundry, house repair, grocery shopping, yard maintenance, managing finances, transporting people and running errands, and earning an income?

Do you think your division will be equitable?

What was the division of labor like where they grew up?

Have they known people who did divide tasks along the traditional gender lines?

Have they known people who did not divide tasks along the traditional gender lines?

Answer 1

I am a bisexual woman.

1) I expect we will both do the child rearing. I want my partner, male or female, to be a part of my child's life. Whichever can pay the bills; I have no problem doing it. We both cook, preferably because we enjoy it, not just because one of us feels obligated to put grub on the table. Hopefully we prepare our meals together, helping out in the kitchen. Either he or she or a paid mechanic will do auto maintence or house repair, because I simply can't do it at all. House cleaning is done by everyone; that has nothing to do with sexual orientation. Similarly for yard maintenance. For some reason, I imagine that I would do laundry and grocery shopping, although I don't know why, but I would expect offers of help and not to be taken for granted. We would both work managing finances and transporting people and running errands. We'd most likely both work, given how hard it is to raise a family on a single salary any more these days, for anyone.

3) Yes, I think the division will be equitable.

4) Where I grew up, the division of labor was somewhat equal, but more work for my mother, and as the years go on, it seems like she shoulders more and more of the burden, sadly enough.

5) Yes, I have known people who have strict task division among gender lines.

6) Yes, I have known people who have not had strict task division among gender lines. Nobody "radical", though, just an equal division of helping out.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

I'd take care of the kid, cause my girl isn't much into kids. I'd pay the bills simply because I grew up with an accountant so I know how to do that stuff. She's the cook, she went to culinary school. We both do cleaning, maintenance, errands, and income earning.

Division of labor is just like any other family, ecclectic. There is no standard for which gender does what. I grew up with my father being home and my mother being at work most of the time. Yes I know families who use traditional lines and those who don't.

Answer 3

Gay
My husband and I usually do the household chores together. Both of us work. Our kids are grown up and out of the house, but taking the kids to school and extra curricular activities was done by whoever had time that day...my work schedule was more flexible so usually it was me.
Yes, it was, it is, and probably will continue to be.
Household labor was divided along the traditional gender lines in my parent's home.
Yes
Yes

Answer 4

Lesbian, My late partner and I shared household tasks. Cooking was changed each week, washing and ironing was changed weekly. We loved outdoor jobs and would work together in the garden or on whatever tasks were required.
Things may have got out of order at times but as we were together for 42 years I think I can say they must have worked out very well.
Thank you for a sensible, well put question.
Rose P.