New study finds married men do less housework than live-in boyfriends

[boutons_]

Public release date: 27-Aug-2007

Contact: Tara Laskowski
[email protected]
chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/cb_transparent_l.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/famfamfam/us.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/arrow.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gifchrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/space.gif703-993-8815chrome://skype_ff_toolbar_win/content/cb_transparent_r.gif
George Mason University (http://www.gmu.edu/)
New study finds married men do less housework than live-in boyfriends

The age-old stereotype that women do more housework than men has gotten more credibility with a George Mason University study co-written by sociologist Shannon Davis.

The study of more than 17,000 people in 28 countries found that married men report doing less housework than men who are live-in boyfriends.

This study was recently published in the Journal of Family Issues by Davis and co-authors Theodore Greenstein and Jennifer Gerteisen Marks of North Carolina State University.

According to Davis, the key finding of the study is that it suggests the institution of marriage changes the division of labor. Couples with an egalitarian view on gender—seeing men and women as equal—are more likely to divide the household chores equally. However, in married relationships, even if an egalitarian viewpoint is present, men still report doing less housework than their wives.

“Marriage as an institution seems to have a traditionalizing effect on couples—even couples who see men and women as equal,” says Davis.

While the researchers did not follow cohabitating couples over time to see if their division of housework changed after marriage, their study provides a “snapshot” in time of couples all over the world.

“Our research suggests that couples across many countries are influenced by similar factors when deciding how to divide the housework,” she says. “It’s the way the society has defined what being married means, the institution itself, that affects behavior.”

[BacktoBasics]

Its half the reason we get married. Was this supposed to be some alarming fact?

[Holt's Cat]

I think any married male could have written that journal article. Tenure's a bitch though.

[mrsmaalox]

newsflash :rolleyes

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Interesting. If both the man and the woman have jobs then yeah, I'd say the fair thing would be for housework to be divided equally. However, if only one of them works, then the other should do ALL the housework period, I don't care if its the man or the woman.

[SpursWoman]

Too funny.

[tsb2000]

They probably should note that married men also spend a lot more on shit they would never buy, and spend a lot more time doing things they would never do- but why paint a whole picture? :)

[Sportcamper]

I know a guy that has a live in boyfriend...The boyfriend does all the laundry, cooking, grocery shopping and interior decorating...It is unbelievable how organized & nice their place looks...

[Bigzax]

i know this guy that's married, but damn, lemme tell you, once his wifey picks up the phone and tells him he better get his ass home and clean the house, he sprints home like duff from a dentist's office and cleans and vacuums while the wife and kids go out to dinner!

[Sportcamper]

Bigzak-Your friend must live in my Home Town...”West Hollywood CA”... No Man from Texas would even think of putting up with that Noise...

[Mrs.Jimcs50]

Married men do less of everything than boyfriends. :depressed

[Sportcamper]

:lol when did Mrs. Jim CS 50 get here?

[Sunshine]

That's it. I'm never getting married. I like having my b/f wait on me hand and foot.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Married men do less of everything than boyfriends. :depressedsame can be said for wives, can't it? :lol

[SpursWoman]

same can be said for wives, can't it? :lol


Maybe we're just tired from doing all of the extra housework all by ourselves. :lol

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Maybe we're just tired from doing all of the extra housework all by ourselves. :lolLet me tell you something, you'd never hear that from a man :toast

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

My experience is in line with the study, although I also started working full time not too long after we got married. That changed the balance of work a bit.

[ShoogarBear]

Yeah, I'm a lazy shit too.

[SpursWoman]

Let me tell you something, you'd never hear that from a man :toast


One of those mysteries of the world that we'll never know the answer too, huh? :lol

[MaNuMaNiAc]

One of those mysteries of the world that we'll never know the answer too, huh? :lolgo figure... :spin

[SpursWoman]

BTW, I'm borderline obsessive-compulsive about keeping my house clean and the way it's done ... so I prefer to do it, anyway. Even though I do have a full-time career and bring home plenty of bacon, so to speak.


:drunk

[MaNuMaNiAc]

BTW, I'm borderline obsessive-compulsive about keeping my house clean and the way it's done so I prefer to do it, anyway. Even though I do have a full-time career and bring home plenty of bacon, so to speak.ahem... you married?... happily that is? :cooldevil

[SpursWoman]

Blissfully. :lol


Although he finally put his foot down not too long ago and took over the lawn mowing. :oops :lmao

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

:flipoff to you, Bear. I'll have you know I put up four window treatments last night. Whipped? Sure! But not lazy.

[ShoogarBear]

BTW, I'm borderline obsessive-compulsive about keeping my house clean and the way it's done ... so I prefer to do it, anyway. Even though I do have a full-time career and bring home plenty of bacon, so to speak.


:drunkWhat happens when you go to other people's homes? Do you feel compelled to clean those, too?

And are you coming to DC anytime soon?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Blissfully. :lol


Although he finally put his foot down not too long ago and took over the lawn mowing. :oops :lmaoI guess he showed who's wearing the pants in ou relationship, huh? :lol

[SpursWoman]

What happens when you go to other people's homes? Do you feel compelled to clean those, too?

And are you coming to DC anytime soon?


I get the same urge to clean, but try and control myself. :lol



I guess he showed who's wearing the pants in ou relationship, huh?

I've been that way my entire life, so that wouldn't be a deciding factor. But I don't mind admitting that I'm whipped, if that's what you meant. :lol

[ShoogarBear]

I get the same urge to clean, but try and control myself. :lolAnd what if, say, someone left a vaccum cleaner, mop, and dustrag within easy reach?

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I've been that way my entire life, so that wouldn't be a deciding factor. But I don't mind admitting that I'm whipped, if that's what you meant. :lolHe put his foot down so he could mow the lawn, and you're whipped? not exactly what I meant :lol

[SpursWoman]

And what if, say, someone left a vaccum cleaner, mop, and dustrag within easy reach?

Temptation might get the better of me.... :oops :lol

[tsb2000]

BTW, I'm borderline obsessive-compulsive about keeping my house clean and the way it's done ... so I prefer to do it, anyway. Even though I do have a full-time career and bring home plenty of bacon, so to speak.


:drunk

You must be a Virgo. :) I'm the same way. My wife couldn't clean to my specs if she was paid 6 figures to do it. That's not a knock on my wife, it's just my impossible, OCD-ish ways.

[timvp]

This study is BS.












Some of us never did any housework in the first place.

:smokin

[Shelly]

I get the same urge to clean, but try and control myself. :lol




I've been that way my entire life, so that wouldn't be a deciding factor. But I don't mind admitting that I'm whipped, if that's what you meant. :lol

SW, please come visit me several times a week! :)

[SpursWoman]

Some of us never did any housework in the first place.

:smokin


I know you've done it at least once. :lol :lol

[SpursWoman]

SW, please come visit me several times a week! :)


:lol :makeout


I'm getting better though ... there's actually been a few times I've left dirty pans out over night.


baby steps .... :drunk

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I try to keep the chores separated by gender-specific categorization.

Specifically, I try to do all the heavy lifting, yardwork, home repairs, etc. However, I do also get involved in the shopping duties, general house cleanup, cooking, dishes, etc. Chopper II goodnight duty also falls on my broad shoulders which includes the evening bathing supervision, and all items involved in slumber preparation including tooth brushing, storytelling, jumping on beds, running amock, etc. Aside from that I usually stand around and flex a lot.

We have someone come in each week and mop, dust, scrub the bathrooms and kitchen, and vacuum, so Mrs. Chopper and I both catch a break in those areas.