TOPIC

Household Labor



Physical chores—such as cleaning, household repairs, and food preparation—are just part of the effort that keeps a household running smoothly. It also requires great mental effort toward logistics (such as scheduling, budgeting, and menu planning) and detailed emotional effort toward maintaining relationships both within and outside of the household. When household labor isn’t distributed equitably among members of the household, resentment can build up and burnout is inevitable. Complicating matters are the heavily gendered and cultural expectations around who is assumed to be in charge of what task, which can lead to feelings of frustration, confusion, and defensiveness. Discussing those assumptions in context while setting our own limits can be crucial parts of maintaining a healthy, happy household.

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Why LGBTQ Couples Split Household Tasks More Equally

After moving in together, Kara and Jo (pictured above) discovered they had complementary interests and skills. Both say dialogue has been key to allocating household responsibilities.

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Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward

Day in, day out, women anticipate and manage the needs of others. In relationships, we initiate the hard conversations. At home, we shoulder the mental load required to keep our households running. At work, we moderate our tone, explaining patiently and speaking softly.

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‘Who’s the Man?’ Why the Gender Divide in Same-Sex Relationships Is a Farce

Most (heterosexual) Americans impose ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ roles on same-sex couples when it comes to housework. Arwa Mahdawi unpacks gender stereotypes, sexuality and the chore gap

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Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving

A moving account of working mothers’ daily lives―and the revolution in public policy and culture needed to improve them The work-family conflict that mothers experience today is a national crisis.

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How Same-Sex Couples Divide Chores, and What It Reveals About Modern Parenting

They divide chores much more evenly, until they become parents, new research shows.

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Ask Me What’s for Dinner One More Time: Inappropriate Thoughts on Motherhood

From the founder of That’s Inappropriate—one of the most popular parenting blogs on the web—comes a hilarious, genuine, and relatable essay collection on the ups and downs of motherhood.

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What Straight Couples Can Learn from Same-Sex Couples When It Comes to Chores

Better communication means a more equal division of labour, says psychology professor

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The Staggering, Exhausting, Invisible Costs of Caring for America’s Elderly

As millions “age in place,” millions more must figure out how to provide their loved ones with increasingly complex care.

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Moms Do More Invisible Labor, But It’s Possible to Lighten the Load

Step one to evening the emotional load? Talk about how much you’re doing.

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How to Divide Household Chores Without Hating Your Partner

An uneven balance of household workload between you and a spouse or partner can cause resentment and additional tension. There are some creative ways to divide up those household chores and help create harmony in the home.

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