Woman Wonders If Working from Home Is a ‘Backward Step for Women' After Taking on More Household Tasks Than Her Husband
A woman on Mumsnet said she works from home and takes on more domestic tasks than her husband
'I am picking up most of the domestic tasks, shopping, cleaning, loading the dishwasher, cooking, running children around,' she explained of her household duties
Now, she's questioning whether the WFH lifestyle is a 'backward step for women,' considering her scenarioA wife is wondering if working from home is worth all the hype.
In a post on the U.K. forum Mumsnet, the woman explained how she and her husband worked from home during COVID, but now, her husband goes into the office three times a week while she goes in once a month.
'We both work full time and both have demanding jobs. When he is in the office he gets up around 8, showers and goes into the office. I am picking up most of the domestic tasks, shopping, cleaning, loading the dishwasher, cooking, running children around, etc.,' she wrote.
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However, she added that she had noticed that working from home 'has resulted in me taking on more at home while he gets to swan about — that is a simplification but you get what I mean.'
The increased workload made the wife question the WFH lifestyle.
'The more I think about it the more I think it is a backward step for women and although at times WFH is very convenient it actually means longer hours, I often start work at 6.30am, and more of the domestic tasks expected to fall on women's shoulders,' she wrote.
She turned to the forum to ask if this was the 'experience of others' and if she should return to the office. Most of the users didn't think this was an issue about women, but more so an issue in her marriage.
'I think it falls to whoever is at home, not my experience that it is the woman choosing to work from home more. If you can go into the office more why don't you? And also you shouldn't be working extra hours, why would you work for free?' one commentator wrote.
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Others found working from home to be beneficial.
'No, I think WFH has been liberating for many women and many couples. This does seem to be a bit more about the man you married and your domestic imbalance,' one person replied. 'For a start, what's stopping him getting up at the same time as you and getting stuck into his domestic responsibilities before he leaves for work?'
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