You don't have to watch Mad Men to know that marriage in 2014 is vastly different than it was in 1964. But now, we have actual numbers to show just how much and what kind of effect it's having on women's lives. Researchers recently found that women have cut the amount of time spent on domestic tasks -- from cooking to cleaning and washing up around the house -- by about 90 minutes a day over the last 50 years.
In turn, we've finally reached parity with men for the total hours spent each day doing paid and unpaid work. Which means women now have the same amount of free time as guys. Well, finally!
The study, which was funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council,involved women from 14 developed countries keeping diaries over the past five decades. They attribute the wins for women to technological improvements, greater affordability of paid help (like maid service), and assistance from husbands and partners.
No doubt that guys are more involved in childcare, shopping for the household, cooking, and cleaning. And that's progress, people!
All right, sure, some wives wish their spouses would lend more of a hand with any or all of the above, but think about it -- do you know any man under 35 who thinks he should be 100 percent exempt from these duties? Heck, age may not even have to do with it. More and more husbands now simply get that domestic duties should be split equally with their wives, given what century we are living in.
The fact of the matter is that no matter if one partner is a stay-at-home parent or both parents work full-time, marriage is not what it used to be. We go into our "I do"s expecting that we're each going to pitch in around the house and when it comes to raising our kiddos.
And successfully divvying up even the most monotonous chores actually makes our relationships stronger. Need proof? Previous research published in the Journal of Family Issues found that when wives are satisfied with the division of labor, both spouses report higher marital quality.
So, looks like we're on track to not only greater gender equality but happier marriages to boot. Talk about a win-win!
How much does your husband help with housework? Do you think successfully splitting chores is the key to a happier marriage?