Member Questions

Predictably, all the women (who are probably earning less than their spouses) said this question was silly. We should post this question on an all male web site and see what answers come back-LOL!

This is a weird question. What does your income have to do with household chores? Does the question assume the person who earns more also works longer hours? The share of household responsibilities should be based on who has more free time, not who makes more money. You both have to live there and I would assume neither partner wants to live in a pigsty.

I say that the person that makes more money should pay for the maid, cook and lawn service if they don't want to find a way to fairly split the household responsibilities.

The question is moot because it assumes a correlation between two obviously unconnected things.

BUT-I will state that the thinking behind this question is presented to women by men to justify the inequitable division of domestic work.

Before women entered the workforce - it was

"Well you don't work outside the home, so you'll be doing the domestic work."

Now, that women work outside the home - it's

"Well you don't make as much money as I do (which actually means "You don't have a job as hard as mine.") so you need to be doing the domestic work too."

Wow! Since when is money an indicator of your time and energy to help with household responsibilities!? My husband is a teacher and coach and during the season, he works unbelievable 14 hour days day after day, and of course, he doesn't receive very much money for that. So, OF COURSE I wouldn't put my feet up at the end of my 8 - 9 hour day and say, well, I brought home more dollars today, so even though you wrangled 50 teenage boys today, in addition to your actual 8 hour JOB, I think I will put my feet up here and let you do the baby's laundry. WHAT!?? Wow. (I don't feel strongly about this or anything) :)