Does the 'new modern man' exist or is housework still womens work?

Question

I am a mature student as part of my course work I have to undertake a Intergrated project. The subject I have chosen is Housework is still women's work, the common belief is that the relations between the male and female partners have become more equal.I woul be very grateful for any information or comments you could send that you feel would help with my project

Answer 1

A "modern man" can earn enough money where his wife doesn't have to work, and they can afford a maid so the wife doesn't have to do the housework either.

Answer 2

I live in the US and I would have to say yes! Things have changed and men are taking on more responsiblities. I live with my boyrfriend and when we moved in together he told me that he wanted to split the work that it was both of our house and we both needed to do things. He still does some of the traditional "male" jobs such as yard work and fixing certain things. He also does dishes (his theory I cook he can clean up). We also split the bathroom duties, yep he scrubs and does toliets! He also handles all the laundry and ironing. I work full time and go to school 12 credit hours, between that and homework he knows that I cannot get all the "womens" work done! I also have friends whose husband/boyfriends help out, they cook clean and look after the kids. My one friend anytime the baby is sick her husband is the first to call off work and take her to the doctor or whatever, he also does all the grocery shopping! I think since most households have two working partners that the men have realized that they have to help out with the house chores to get it all done! Another thing you might want to look at for your paper is more women are becoming the "bread" winner how does this effect the chores. There are many men that are staying home and taking care of the kids and the home while the women goes to work. I think this is great! Not enough men get to do this and it really lets them have a strong bond with their kids! I think the whole world is changing and that people are finding that women are a stong part of society and that we are not just going to do the dishes and stay at home! Well I hope this helps you with the paper! Good luck!

Answer 3

We are not all "new modern men" who do house work,many are pensioners. I've been doing it since I was a school boy helping my mother and my wife has followed her career through our married life so we share the work at home. O K I'm not into active sports or being a fervent football supporter and neither is my wife into activities a woman would be fanatical about but we do enjoy our leisure time together when all the chores are done. I remember the first time I saw a man alone with a pushchair,novel then ,common place now. One more point,always remember to say thank you to each other for their help.

Answer 4

When a working women gets stuck with all the house work it is referred to as the third shift. In my home where we both work full time and look after an elderly parent as well delegation of duties saves everyones sanity. I can't imagine being married to a man who would expect me to do it all. My husband and I have a marriage based on respect and mutuality. He makes sure that the family is taken care of when I have night classes or work evening at my profession. I also will do the extra tasks when he has other pressing engagements. We don't get resentful and the children learn how to live in a cooperative home that values everyones time and choices.
My parents were very much like this as well. My husband grew up in a conservative family with more traditional roles but realized that this would not work with our career choices. Everyone should be willing to make sacrifices for each other. This is part of relationships and also works well when you become a part of community and society.
The world certainly can't revolve around a person based on their sex.

Answer 5

I reckon Sheepdog's answer is about right.
It depends if there are children involved and who takes care of them.
Are the people working or not? What hours? Shift patterns etc., etc., etc.
I thin k men should know the basics and help out if needed. But ditto the women.
I can slip into either stereotypes. Therefore I can do most things. Handy if hubby isn't around.
I now live in California. Even households where the women don't work employ cleaners, nannies and gardeners. Lazy sods!

Answer 6

While my dad is out of work, he has taken over all the duties at home. He's not too happy about it (like me, he adores work), but he's damned good at it. When both he and my mom are working, they will return to dividing the housework. Only a minority believe that housework should be left solely to the woman. We've come farther than THAT.

Answer 7

For me it goes like this. I used to work outside the home just like my husband. I would come home, take care of the kids, do all the house work. We were going through a hard time so it was time to buck up and not complain, which I never did.
Now things are much better and I no longer have to work outside the home and I still do the housework and the raising of the kids.
Bottom line I believe no matter what my situation is the housework is always the woman's job.

Answer 8

I could be classed as a modern man i cook ,clean, wash clothes . And i do it better than my partner tho she would beg to differ on that point. I think that in the modern society we live in where a womans life is often about juggling many stresses, it is only fair that the male role should be more accomodating to the smooth running of a household.

Many of the daily chores would not get done unless i did them as my partner is as tired as i am at the end of a day so why should i expect her to continue working whilst i don't help. Things get done equally in our household as this works share and share alike thats what i say

Hope thats of use to your project

Answer 9

When a man is living alone, he only cleans once in a while because that is his comfort zone. Girls tend to need to clean a lot more. So when the feminists complain that the girls are doing all the housework, it is FALSE! She is doing the housework, not for him, but only for herself!

Whether he is living in the same house as her is completely irrelevant simply because she is cleaning the house for herself and not for him!!!

People need to understand the feminist argument is completely wrong!!

Men who buy into the feminist argument are completely stupid. If she wants the house to be cleaned, she can do it herself. The man only needs to clean it once a year and he will still be perfectly happy. Girls who want the man to do the housework are just LAZY!

Answer 10

A really good question this one. This is probably a slightly different viewpoint as I would not consider myself a new or modern man. I am 64 and am still working albeit part time. My wife is slightly older than me but I didn't say that if she asks. She suffers very bad atrhiritis in her knees which limits her ability, so we each do the jobs we can do. I take down curtains, change beds etc she does washing and ironing. I imagine you can fill in the rest. Sometimes life forces things on you but in a way it's brrought us closer. Hope this helps and good luck with your course.

Answer 11

The new modern man does exist. I am proof.

However the new modern man is still not able to do the house work properly. We have yet to receive the proper training. Modern women have changed. Women now expect us to know how to do the washing, ironing etc but have never told us how! We have not had the same training you women have had over the few hundred years.

Until this situation is sorted out, the roles of men and women will remain as they always have.