Conjugal Roles: Has Feminism Failed?

Are we finally seeing symmetry in domestic chores?

I like most people, don’t like domestic chores. However, I like to think I do my fair share of chores around the home and I certainly do the the bulk of the cooking, gardening and all the DIY.  Back in the 70s Willmott & Young spoke of the Symmetrical Family, a relationship that was equal when it came to performing domestic chores.  Personally I believe in my household, this is pretty much the standard.

Of course as those of us who are familiar with this work will know, is that their work was severely flawed, not least of which was their methodology in measuring ‘symmetry’ (see Oakley’s critique).

So is the male of the species becoming more involved in the domestic sphere? Well apparently there has been a three fold increase in the number of house husbands in the UK in the last 15 years and according to recent research by YoupiJob.co.uk 66% of men perform 8 hours or more on domestic chores each week.  Surprisingly this compares to 62% of women.

This compares to 1965 when men performed 4.9 hours and women 30, apparently.

Modern life requires men take a greater role in domestic chores.  More and more women are working full time and cool gadgets make doing chores less feminine.

According to the researchers, this turns gender stereotypes on their heads.  Or does it?

A recent study into Britain’s cleaning habits shows that 82% of wives / female partners still do the bulk of household chores with relationship expert Phillip Hodson, spokesman for the Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, saying many men still regard traditional housework as ‘women’s work’.

Women apparently still do the bulk of household duties

Data from other research claims that 1 in 5 men do nothing at all around the home, with women performing around 17 hours per week on domestic chores compared to men’s 6 hours.  Hardly the symmetrical family is it?  “Gender inequalities in all areas are rooted in social structures but also in attitudes,” said Professor Gillian Robinson, of the University of Ulster.

Now for those familiar with Willmott & Young’s notion of the Symmetrical Family, this idea of an equal relationship was more likely to be found within middle class relationships.  So it was with interest that I read an article a little while back in the Daily Mail on line that claimed feminism has failed working class women. Feminism has focused too much on the high profile and neglected the basics of the domestic sphere.

Feminism therefore has failed the majority of women. Feminism has failed to achieve greater equilibrium in the home!

Well according to Catherine Hakim, feminism should in fact not be trying to achieve greater male participation in domestic chores, as there already exists an equal sharing of hours spent on productive work.  To quote:

“…this data overturns the well-entrenched theory that women work disproportional long hours in jobs and at home in juggling family and work. Feminists constantly complain that men are not doing their fair share of domestic work. The reality is that most men already do more than their fair share.”

So there you have it.  Us men are engaging more in domestic chores (according to one set of research data) although women are still doing the bulk of the chores (according to a different set of data).

Has feminism failed women? Depends on your point of view really.

And that is why I love Sociology!

All statistics and quotes are taken form the articles below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2274498/Are-men-REALLY-doing-housework-women-According-new-survey-men-really-ARE-tidier-sex.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1319876/Gender-equality-Women-STILL-82-cent-housework.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-206381/Working-women-housework.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2301956/Has-feminism-failed-Eight-married-women-STILL-housework-husbands.html

http://www.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2010/08/domestic_duties.aspx