"Women are good at multi-tasking"

[HennyPennyHorror]

I've heard so many women say this...like it's something to be proud of.

AIBU to think it's actually bullshit. Probably some man came up with it as a way of getting out of doing more?

"Oh yes! Scientifically proven that women are better at multi-tasking!"

Don't think so.

[ColeHawlins]

Historically, women had no choice but to juggle multiple tasks, whilst men had the freedom to ignore domestic tasks and children. They just focused on one thing at a time (golfing, paid employment, hunting bison, building their boats, whatever), usually in a separate, dedicated space away from the women's sphere, which was home.

So socialisation, evolution or both, according to your preference.

[kamelo]

Multi-tasking = Doing a half arsed job of many things at the same time.

[kamelo]

Posted too early.
Time management and prioritising are far more important traits than multi-tasking.

[Seniorschoolmum]

When my sis makes the early morning tea, she sticks the kettle on, then empties the dishwasher, opens all the curtains and puts on a load of washing before taking tea back to bed.
When my bil does it, he puts on the kettles, hums, talks to the cat, takes tea back to bed.
Makes me laugh every time

[Boredgiraffes]

Or maybe you are reading too much into this and some women are proud to be able to multi task. Not everything is about evil men out to get us! Some of us are just happy being strong women able to multi task :)

[SurfingGiantess]

My multi tasking right now is writing this and feeding a baby and feeling shitty with a cold while also feeling resentful about OHs useless nipples.
But normally I'll start emptying the dishwasher, see a dirty sock- put that in the washbasket- start separating darks while I'm there... half way through I see a pee stain on the toilet seat- clean that... etc so doing loads of jobs without finishing any of them. Until OH comes home from work to "help finish"

[Dvg]

I don't think woman are better than men but I can say I've been better at multitasking than any men I've been with.. especially now I have a baby, if I couldn't multitask then I would get nothing done.

[hazell42]

Ever seen a man operate the till at the supermarket? I've yet to find one who can scan an item with one hand whilst simultaneously reaching for the next item with their free hand.
Always go to a female staffed checkout. (Or you could go self-service and avoid the forced pleasantries, but that's a different thread).

[CherryPavlova]

It’s rubbish. Many people are good at multitasking where less focus is required, but sex is irrelevant. What I think many people find difficult is being entirely involved and engrossed in a task that requires total concentration - much harder than multitasking.
Most people can empty a dishwasher whilst making a cup of tea and jiggling a baby on one hip. Fewer people can accurately proof read and review a 14, 000 word technical report.
It’s got nothing to do with your sex.

[OhamIreally]

I'm brilliant at multitasking. Right now I'm lying in bed AND writing this.

[DinosApple]

My DH is awesome at multitasking at work (we work together). His memory at work is remarkable and he multitasks like an octopus.

It doesn't work like that at home because by then he is exhausted mentally and physically, so it falls to my lot to hold kids, work and home life together. I'm ok at this, but I can't multitask to the same extent at work.

In a few years there's going to be a role reversal and quite honestly when the dust has settled, he should be as good as me.

[blueskiesovertheforest]

hazell42 that's why I go to the checkout staffed by a young man in our local Aldi - so I can pack into bags nicely as he scans! The women are so efficient and fast I have to jumble it all loose into the trolley. Overall it saves me time not to repack into bags after paying so I prefer the slower checkout, but the women are more efficient employees for Aldi in terms of whizzing customers through.

[MrsJamin]

It really gets my goat when people say women are better at multitasking. Thankfully I also have men I my life who also find that idea sexist. My husband can multi-task like the rest of them, so can a male colleague of mine. You can do what you learn and spend lots of time doing according to what you have to do, so women learn it if they are in a position to have to learn it or risk wasting time. The stay at home dads I have known did a great job of getting things done. Brain plasticity, people!

[blueskiesovertheforest]

Supposedly genuine multitasking is a myth anyway - the name's a bit deceptive.

Unpacking the dishwasher while the kettle's boiling is being organised rather than multitasking.

1. Put the kettle on - aware it takes 3 minutes to boil and no other tea making tasks need completing in this time
   
2. unpack dishwasher, which takes 3 minutes
   
3. Make tea using freshly boiled water.
   
   Actually trying to do two things simultaneously would be putting tea bags in mugs, pouring boiling water, fetching and adding milk while putting knives and forks and plates away with the other hand, which would clearly be a terrible idea.
   
   Most people can't text and walk simultaneously without problems, walking and talking are about the limit.

[ISaySteadyOn]

So if, like me, you're rubbish at multitasking, does that mean you fail at womaning properly?

[AnnaNutherThing]

I'm awful at it.

I'm not a man, I don't think..

[TheYoungOffendersMum]

I'm wonderful at it!

I can simultaneously: breathe, think, move limbs, talk, observe my surroundings, hear stuff (though hearing is impaired), and notice if my kids have done a silent but violent fart.

I don't think that's the kind of multitasking you're meaning though

[Rufusthebewilderedreindeer]

I always tell dh that i can muti task as i can shower and have a wee at the same time

Its a joke but its send him off on a rant every time

Ive got to get my fun any way i can

[MrsJamin]

@Rufusthebewilderedreindeer

[EssentialHummus]

Unpacking the dishwasher while the kettle's boiling is being organised rather than multitasking.

I am. It pisses me off no end that DH isn't. Never mind the acrobatics of childcare and housework, I can get a fry-up, toast and tea on the table in 20 minutes flat. DH? Literally an hour. Makes me rage.

[BigButtons]

I have never met a man who can multitask.
I am very good at it.

[ThereIsNoSuchThingAsRoadTax]

There is no good evidence of any sex differences in multi-tasking
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00426-018-1045-0

[AnnaNutherThing]

My DH and I have swapped roles then.

It's surely individual.

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

What Cole and Senior said.

I agree it's one those things I hear both sexes saying often.

Similarly when a phone call is required to reserve a table, book tickets or the like, DH who for a living manages billionty pounds every day says "Can you do it? You're so much better at that kind of thing?" WTF? It's a phone call

[Halloumimuffin]

I think it should be called task-switching rather than multitasking, because unless you are literally doing a different thing with each limb, you are still only doing one thing at a time, just in quicker succession.

Sorry, pedantic bugbear of mine and completely irrelevant to the OP.