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Laid-off men and housework

Turns out, they tend to do less housework than when they were bringing home a cheque

Is unemployment breeding househusbands or couch potatoes? Studies from the 90s suggest that when men lose their jobs, they tend to do less housework than when they were bringing home a paycheque. But based on anecdotal evidence from readers, Slate writer Emily Bazelon argues that the roles may be shifting. In this recession, many women report that their laid-off partners are actually picking up more of the cleaning and childcare duties. That said, some say a hesitance to bruise the “fragile male ego” is keeping them from insisting that chores be divided differently.

Slate

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