A woman’s work is never done... by her other half

Men still do less of the household chores

IT seems the old-fashioned adage of a ‘woman’s work is never done’ could still be true when it comes to the division of household chores between couples.

Results of a new Central Statistics Office survey show that of opposite-sex couples both in full-time employment, women report that they do more of the household work than men.

However, it appears women could have freer rein when it comes to spending on themselves, as more than nine in ten women say they feel free to spend money on themselves without asking permission from their partner, compared with 83% of male respondents.

But it is the perception couples have of how chores are split that makes for most interesting reading in the CSO’s Pulse Survey – Life At Home 2021: Couples. Overall, men are likelier to be more satisfied than women with the division of household tasks.

The survey shows that 47% of men said they had a high satisfaction level with the division of household tasks, compared to 31% of women.

In couples where both partners work full-time, women were more likely than men to report being mostly responsible for home chores and for grocery shopping, meal planning and preparation.

However, some 63% of men said they are mostly responsible for home and garden maintenance compared with 15% of women.

More than eight in ten women who are not employed and whose partner is employed reported that they are mostly responsible for organising and taking care of household chores, compared with 27% of men who are not employed and whose partner is employed.

But it seems that when there is a row at home, more women than men believe they come out on top. Almost one in four women compared to just 7% of men said ‘mostly mine’ when asked whose opinion usually prevails when there is a tiff.

Statistician Brian Cahill said: ‘This report shows that female respondents in opposite-sex couples were more likely to say they are mostly responsible for organising and taking care of household chores, grocery shopping and meal preparation, taking care of household health-related issues and organising social activities.

‘Men were more likely to report being mostly responsible for financial decisions on saving, investment and borrowings, home and garden maintenance and setting up or renewing household utilities.’