Supermom on stike?

Why is it that in a household with two working adults, women are still expected to complete all or majority of the household chores? We as a society, for the most part, have come to accept the fact that a woman’s place is not solely in the home, doing the chores and accommodating the needs of our children and mates. Women have broken through the glass ceiling and are working their way in their careers and gaining the respect of men who thought less of their abilities. If we are being viewed as equals to men career-wise, why are the scales still so unbalanced in the household?

With the emergence of stay-at-home dads, you would think that more men would take on a greater role in the home. But that is hardly the case. Why? Maybe it is because little boys are raised to believe that house chores are woman’s work. That mom is the one who is exclusively responsible for cooking family meals, washing dishes, dusting and doing laundry. That a male participating in the upkeep of the home is unmanly.

But who is responsible for raising our young, impressionable boys to believe that he is exempted from doing household duties while he watches his mom teach his sister to cater to her future husband’s and children’s needs and wants. The answer is surprising but true. Women. We are the ones that impart on our progenies that women are the sole care takers of the house while to keep our men happy, you need to keep the house sparkling, dinner ready on the table by dinner time and the children bathed and tucked into bed by a decent hour so that the man can get some peace and quiet after a hard day’s work. Now, little girls are taught the additional lesson of being independent; get a higher education and land the perfect job. So essentially, we are teaching young ladies to grow up to be super women that work hard all day then arrive home to keep a clean house, raise healthy, happy children and keep a satisfied husband.

We need to break this cycle. We as women need to step up and even out the scale. What’s wrong with showing our offspring that dad can be an equal, or at the very least a contributing participant in the home? Why can’t dad have dinner ready by the time mom gets home? Why can’t dad help with the dishes or the laundry?

I’m not saying that women should give up taking care of their men or children. I find it very satisfying to make my man and child happy but know what I love even better? Having a man that recognizes that I too am tire after working the 9-5. Having a man, who might not take on half the work load of running a household, but who at least makes an effort to help and who shows that he appreciates my efforts. One that recognizes that my caring for him and our family is not a right but a privilege and wants to reciprocate. Why can’t he tuck the kids in tonight while I unwind from a hard day’s work?

Personally, I think it’s too late to noticeable change the mindset of this generation or even the next. But we can plant the seeds for the generations to follow. I believe in equality, in and outside the home. Men need to realize that women work just as hard as they do and have needs and wants of their own. Why is it fair to bear the brunt of the house work load while keeping a full time job. It is not. We need to show our sons that it’s okay to help out around the house. That washing a dish is not the end of the world. We are the ones who need to confront our husbands and demand help. Things will not change overnight but it’s a start.