Men will do most chores ... in 50 years

In most homes, it’s still the woman who does the lion’s share of the housework.

But trends suggest there will be a role reversal within the next five decades, by which time the main household chores will more often be tackled by a man.

Researchers have compared how often different generations perform certain chores – like cooking, vacuuming and cleaning – and they have identified a trend line showing that, whilst women currently perform traditional roles most often, the gap is narrowing to the point where men and women will eventually switch.

Of the main chores, clothes washing is set to shift first, with men taking over this role in nine years’ time.

Cleaning the bathroom will come next – in 16 years – and cooking will follow after that, seeing men take to the chopping board more often than their partners in 36 years’ time.

Dusting will be last to fall, with men avoiding dusters for another 52 years.

On the other hand, ironing has actually already switched, along with loading and unloading the dishwasher.

As for jobs that men do the most – like washing the car, taking the bins out and gardening – there is no sign of the switch going the other way any time soon.

Currently, women wash clothes and mop up the bathroom more than twice as much as their partners each month.

And of the main household chores including vacuuming, tidying and changing the bedclothes, women still do 79 per cent of them more often than men.

Research by Privilege Home Insurance examined the home lives of 2,000 people in the UK.

Currently, men are cooking dinner for their wives and girlfriends six times a month, compared to girls who cook dinner on average ten times a month.

Men pick up the food shopassemble

‘Dusting will be the last to fall’

ping five times a month, compared to women’s six, and men clean four times a month, compared to seven times a month for women.

The research shows that 31 per cent of women are now more likely to do DIY in the home than their husbands or boyfriends.

And 20 per cent will paint and flat pack furniture before their partner volunteers to do so.

Only 7 per cent of fathers said they would stay at home to look after their baby.

But they do the school run almost as many times as women, taxiing their children six times a month compared to the eight times a woman does.

Dan Simson, head of Privilege home insurance said: ‘We carried out this report because understanding our customers’ lifestyles – particularly within the home – is important to us.

‘The research has shown that whilst men are gradually taking up more traditional “female” chores, girls are starting to be more likely to give DIY a go.

‘But anyone picking up the tool box should remember to check their insurance policies carefully in case of accidental damage.’