U.S. study: Housework still women's burden

[Al-khiyal]

Papa might not just come home and kick back with his pipe and slippers anymore, but a new government report shows that American women are still doing more of the work around the house.

A detailed look at how Americans spend their days, released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, finds:

*More than half of women said they had done housework in the last 24 hours, compared with about one in five men.

*Women still are more likely to make the meals and do the cleanup -- 66 percent vs. 37 percent.

*Of those with children, women spent twice as much time as men caring for the kids.

*Meanwhile, employed men reported working and work-related activities at a higher rate - about 81/2 hours a day, an hour more than women. They also spent more time doing lawn and garden work and watching TV.

"We're a long way from the egalitarian society," said John Robinson, director of the American Use of Time Project at the University of Maryland. But, he said, the division of labor has improved. In 1965, for example, women did 85 percent of all the household work.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has been asking people about their days for the last three years to compile its "American Time Use Survey." For the latest report, the department, along with the U.S. Census Bureau, queried about 13,000 Americans in 2005.

As for the disparity between the work women do around the home and that of their husbands, "I didn't need a study to tell me that,'' said Colette Dever, a 48-year-old west suburban married mother of four.

Dever, who works part time as an office worker, said she does "almost everything" around the house. But, with her husband, Mike, leaving the house at 6:15 a.m. for his engineering job and returning at 7 p.m. or later, it's a matter of division of labor.

"I'm sure if I said, 'Do this,' he would. But it's hard to say when he comes home at 7, 'It's time to vacuum now,' " said Dever.

Joanne Brundage, executive director of the Elmhurst-based Mothers and More, a support group with 140 chapters across the country, said sharing of household duties is a common gripe among the group's 6,000 members.

"Their complaints, quite frankly, are that men aren't stepping up," said Brundage.

True, men today do pitch in more than their father's generation, she acknowledged. But, she said, the understanding is that "if a guy does anything, he's a saint; if the mother doesn't do something, it's like, what's wrong with her?"

Brundage, 54, calls her husband, Richard, a "pretty good equal partner" for his involvement in raising their three children. But when it comes to housework and cooking, she does it. "I'm not a very good delegator," she said.

Joy A. Thomas, a 39-year-old Baxter Healthcare executive, said "50-50 would be nice" when it comes to work around the house, but it may not be realistic. When her husband, Michael, an operations manager for a freight company, is coaching soccer and hockey, "I don't mind doing all the cooking" because his involvement is good for their kids, she said.

The Glenview resident admits she is fortunate to be able to afford a compromise: They have a cleaning lady.

Time expert Robinson jokes that he expects men to match women in terms of household chores around the year 2043 - "when the first male mother is created."

"I didn't need a study to tell me that.'' - Housework still women's burden

[Cheba_Mami]

American women? nooo ALL WOMEN face the same problems. It seems like some things will always be the same as ever! Here and there you might have noticed some 'emancipated men' doing (some) of the housekeeping and making themselves a good father.... but believe me, that housekeeping-species is rare and always will be

and ladies.... i think most of all do those things better eh?
ok ok i'll try to be serious....

The problem is most women have full time jobs and most men too, and still women have to do it all alone. A helping hand is always good (and i personally-dont expect too much)

[lydiasmom]

Even though I am a stay at home mom, any help from my husband is always needed.
I think housekeeping and taking care of the kids is the hardest and the most complicated job.
I wonder how working women and especially those with full time jobs, are able to manage their work and their house duties

This is why we started to see more women looking to work from home to spend more time with their kids which has a lot of advantages (kids grow up close to their parents, money saving from daycare and other expenses).

[Cheba_Mami]

right, but it also depends on how many kids and waht kind of kids- the normal types or the restless messy types
Most women who have full time jobs do the household together and till late hours so man and wife can afford the dreamhouse etc... but not without being exhausted everyday single day- thats what ive seen. Sometimes thye even hire extra people (nanny,maids) but most of the time the daughters help too. its different in every family.

Working from house can be a good alternative- but cant be done for all jobs lest say- if one is a nurse you have to be in the hospital..

people from daycare aren't always angels for the kids! be aware

kind greetings
Cheba Mami

[nedjma95]

Asslama Lydiasmom and chaba_mami ,
For the stay home moms the hard part is that usually hasbands think when you're at home you could be sleeping and watching tv all day if you're not chopping spending their money , houses are self clean and kitchens self cook .
(would be nice ) . moms need to get out and get some cooling time . It is a very hard job . the benefit though is being with the kids seeing them growing be there for school activitues and parties and emotional moments. Just to be there for them .
I personally work over full time sometimes 12 hours a day . the hardest part is to not enjoy my kids not seeing them growing be there for the silliest things. late for games for parties , my heart always smached for missing all this.Still have to do all the home job by my self , 'cause he's always tired go figure . but in some circumstances there is no other solutions I herd it all .
Ya cheba_mami ,life is not always easy . if some women had the choice I don't think they would want to throw their children in daycares , if husbands or boyfriends helped it would make life much more beautiful , couples relaxed and every body is in peace

[Cheba_Mami]

w/salam nedjma95 since women excist they have to do it, the unfortunate thing is that men find even washing one cup or plate is making them less 'manly' but its juts a little housholdthing

and missing the precious moments of growing up the children is often a bad consequence of working long periods.

that men dont appreciate it is worser than not helping

things will be fine somehow, have to go now

take care!
ma3assalamaaa

[HOUDA-K]

I'm so pleased that the chores in house are not just done by the females in my home.