Housework

I am very fortunate that my mother-in-law raised my husband to do chores at an early age. He began washing dishes, changing sheets and mopping floors at 7 years of age and truly appreciates the importance of cleanliness and order. I was raised with my mother doing all the housework and my father doing all the yard work; very clearly defined gender boundaries. One day, about five years into our marriage I had an epiphany about housework: we both lived in the house, therefore we both shared in the responsibility of keeping it orderly, so why was I constantly thanking my husband for doing chores? A very simple conversation relieved so much consternation all because of a subtle shift in perception. However such shifts in perception come about is inconsequential; seeking a deeper perception on everyday things like housework is the point. It is a launching point for improved communication. To achieve this we can look at the household chores we naturally gravitate toward and then swap them with someone else’s typical chores. If we do yard work, trash, and drain de-clogging, we could swap with laundry folding, dusting, and plant watering. Gender boundaries have definitely shifted when it comes to cooking. In fact, most men I know are quite comfortable in the kitchen. How did this shift come about? Did it have anything to do with the Iron [man] Chef segment on the Food Network? Either way this show has had a positive impact in the quest to achieve gender-blindness in areas of well-established stereotyping. And that seems like a pretty good thing. Wouldn’t you agree ?