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Why I think housework is a feminist issue
Mar. 20th, 2007 05:33 pmThe Politics of Housework.
Would that this were as dated as it should be.
Gamer Guys and Gals, these are still red-hot-red-button statements, no matter who does the housework in your house:
The general work of keeping up with things, be it bills, house repairs, screaming children, pet health, or laundry, takes time and energy. Ignoring those things has consequences. Unless you and the people you live with agree that you are all willing to tolerate those consequences, turn off the computer/game console, get off your butt, and get to work. Believe me, the only people who died of housework were doing it wrong.
Would that this were as dated as it should be.
Gamer Guys and Gals, these are still red-hot-red-button statements, no matter who does the housework in your house:
- "We have different standards, and why should I have to work to your standards? That's unfair."
Yes, I too have persecuted a man for not folding towels the 'right' way. I was fourteen. My father never folded another towel again. (Then again, since he also staged a hunger strike in the hospital because they told him he had to make his bed before getting meals.) So I pet and praise people for doing things at all.
Sure, sit down and work out a compromise solution: the person who would normally do housework probably does have higher standards than the one who doesn't. But if you get caught slacking on those agreed-on standards, don't even think of using this excuse. - "I've got nothing against sharing the housework, but you can't make me do it on your schedule."
When you work out when things need to be done, you'd better listen to the people doing other jobs and make sure your schedule meets with theirs. Saying that the dishes only need doing once a week when the cook needs that space to cook in every day is slacking. Claiming that hot food and planned meals are not a necessity to deal with this problem is being a slacker, unless the other people are of the same opinion. - "I hate it more than you. You don't mind it so much." [Now generally transmuted to "The mess bothers you more than me."]
Bhoys and grrls, if the Board of Health would agree with your roommate about the level of mess you tolerate, clean up your act. Or move in with people who agree about the level of mess. I suggest a flophouse, though where you'd find one outside of Steinbeck anymore I can't say.
The general work of keeping up with things, be it bills, house repairs, screaming children, pet health, or laundry, takes time and energy. Ignoring those things has consequences. Unless you and the people you live with agree that you are all willing to tolerate those consequences, turn off the computer/game console, get off your butt, and get to work. Believe me, the only people who died of housework were doing it wrong.
