Are You Working Too Hard?

Many of us are familiar with a number of recently published research reports that confirm women who work outside the home still take on responsibility for the lion(esses) share of housework, home management and childcare – even when they have male partners who are equally capable, but simply don’t fell the same kind of pressure. A really good example of that kind of thinking is an advertisement that runs here in Brisbane for a “dish drawer” dishwasher. A young woman unloads dishes from a dishwasher into a ground level drawer, while the gentleman in the ad sits, watches her and puts his superior brain to work as he mutters “Dish, drawer, dish, drawer”….. Suddenly he gets it!  He designs a dishdrawer dishwasher!  And the lucky young woman now gets to unload dishes from the top shelf of the dish drawer dishwasher instead of the bottom shelf.  Which is pointless anyway because her dish drawer is at ground level. So my question is, why does the young man feel entitled to do nothing but sit down and think, while his partner unloads a dishwasher full of dishes after a day at work?  I imagine it’s because she feel the pressure I mentioned above – to be an impeccable house keeper as well as working woman and possibly perfect mother as well. Well, on that topic, the Sydney Morning Herald now reports that one quarter of women want more time and one fifth have too much stress. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-womans-work-is-never-done-study/2008/03/01/1204227049792.html To be honest, I’m surprised the stats are so low! A quick poll amongst my colleagues this afternoon was unanimous in one regard –  they all wanted more time.  Around 50% felt they had too much stress. How do you feel?  Would you like more time?  Are you too stressed?  And if so, how could things be improved? And perhaps the most confronting question of all – why do we do it?  Why do women who work outside the home generally feel compelled to take on the responsibility of full time home duties as well? Interesting topic!