Reasons why men do less housework

Researchers at the University of Cambridge (UK) collected data over two years of the pandemic and discovered that in reality, while both sexes had more time at home, women still did more.

For example, in a survey of American households, 70% of women do all or most of the housework; 66% said they do all or most of the childcare. These numbers remain roughly the same as the survey results without the pandemic.

Through a lot of data, researchers ask why both men and women stay at home but women still shoulder the majority of housework and children?

Tom McClelland, a lecturer in the Department of History and Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, said that common sense cannot explain persistent inequality and the lack of male participation in household chores, but science.

"This inequality can be explained by 'interactivity theory,' which refers to the implicit actions people take when encountering certain objects and situations," McClelland said in a recent paper published in the journal Philosophy and Phenomenological Research.

Specifically, this theory explains that when a woman walks into the kitchen, she is more likely to see dishes waiting to be washed and a refrigerator that needs to be restocked. Meanwhile, men also see dirty dishes, a messy kitchen, or an empty refrigerator, but do not feel the “mental urge” to clean up immediately. Over time, these small differences add up to a significant difference in the things that women do and men do not.

But experts say the study is not intended to encourage men to deny responsibility or make excuses.

McClelland says that perception is shaped by practice, and people can train their brains to form good habits. "If you're boiling water, notice if there's a dish that needs washing, if there's a dirty stovetop that needs wiping. Over time, you don't have to practice that habit anymore because you start noticing what needs cleaning," he advises.

The findings of this study provide an academic body of evidence that could influence major policies, such as paid parental leave.

"If a man has more time off to care for his children, he will gradually form the habit of doing the work without needing to be reminded... and that will lead to a more equitable distribution of housework between the sexes in the future," McClelland said.

According to VnExpress