In a bun dance

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How can I raise feminist boys when I’m in charge of the housework?

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Swings and roundabouts

There is a gender imbalance at the Palace of Bundance. One against four, me against them. 

There is often a sense of the adversarial in the matter… And that makes me rather sad.

I try very hard to set the best example I can. Not sighing, rolling my eyes and saying “boys” when there is chaos and noise. Encouraging and instructing them in the traditionally female tasks. Teaching them to look after themselves, and pointing out and correcting slips into casual sexism and objectification.

But I fear it isn’t enough. Not by a long chalk. 

Of the five of us, I’m the one who makes most of the choices on domestic matters and actually does most of the work. I’m not complaining about how or why that happens (not in this post anyway) it’s just how it is in our house and, I suspect, many others. 

But how, if that’s the example I’m setting, can I blaze a trail of equality for my future men to follow? What else can I do? 

I want my boys to grow into a world where men and women are valued equally – at work and elsewhere. 

I want them to be given the same respect as their female peers, and vice versa. 

I’d like them to be shocked by casual sexism in the same way I am. And for it to be as blindingly wrong as racism and homophobia. 

Sexism still sickens me – yet I wonder if I’m failing in the fight against it. 









Comments

  1. The thing that men do more than women (on autopilot) is brag and tell stories. Learn to show off and “chest thump” a little, and all of a sudden housework wont be such a lowly occupation.
    For the record I was raised in a “role-reversed” household, and that was the big difference between dad and my mate's mums… all the stuff he did was an adventure or an accomplishment… like “man-flu” in reverse.
    That's the area where real gains can be made, how much you show off, rather than what you actually do.

  5. Tbh I don't think it's a matter of feminism but of raising your boys to clean up after themselves. Making sure you don't do all the cleaning, washing, tidying away that they help as well so it's INGRAINED into them.

  7. It can be done, my husband is the product of a 1950s household (despite being born in '78!), so divided were his parents' roles. His mum did not work. His dad did not clean, wash, or cook. Even now, his father has cooked about two meals in his entire life.

    And yet, my husband and I are such complete equals when it comes to child rearing / household responsibilities, you'd think he'd been raised by a community of feminists!

    The key is probably to raise them to be kind, considerate of others, and to clean up after themselves. Hopefully the rest will flow from that.

  8. As a mum of 2 girls it can be just as difficult. Out of necessity my husband is currently working away from home Monday to Friday so all the “domestic and household chores” fall on my shoulders. This is reinforced by the grandparents who think he must be so tired he needs a “nice rest at the weekends !”
    I used to be such a strident believer in equality but somehow feel it has all fallen by the wayside due to economic reality.
    I run my business to show my girls that you can be a wife and mother and still be part of the business world but sometimes feel I am just putting added pressure on myself.
    Sorry, just a wee bit of a rant there 🙂

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