Over half of French people back proposals to criminalise shirking domestic chores

SafeguardingSocialWorker · 2022-04-08T18:21:57+00:00

Article in The Times. I mean obviously people wouldnt really report their spouses to the police for not doing the washing up but its an interesting idea and raises the ever present issue of how women (usually) are shouldering more of their fair share. [[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bafa86e6-b737-11ec-8c29-375fe0cc1f19?shareToken=42ecd4b35c2aa5285e13f4cdcf815764]]

Snorkello · 09/04/2022 06:26

Wow! Interesting that the increase of time spent helping out around the house by men has only gone up by 14 minutes since the 1970’s. I’m not sure I would report my OH for lack of hoovering, so would like to know what others views are on this.

As a political issue, would it help improve domestic partnerships in the future? Effectively this says to the next generation that domestic roles are equal. That when they marry they can’t laze about even if their parents did and that it’s not okay to leave their partner to pick up after them.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 09/04/2022 06:47

I haven’t read the article but I wonder which 50% of the population is in favour and which 50% isn’t.

What characteristic splits the population into 50/50? Hmmmm?

DealWithTheDevilAtTheCrossroad · 09/04/2022 06:53

I'd be categorically opposed to this.

My DH would be given the right to initiate criminal proceedings against me!

PerseverancePays · 09/04/2022 06:57

As if. I used to go to France regularly and it was very openly misogynistic among even young couples. Glad to hear there's some pushback. Although with a generation of 'gamers' coming through, they're going to need some industrial strength interventions to get them to step up.

MintyMoocow · 09/04/2022 07:00

Well, there are four adults in my house!
Could I have my 18yo arrested for not putting stuff in the dishwasher?

DropYourSword · 09/04/2022 07:07

What a load of bollocks!

I don't understand why people allow themselves to be in relationships where they feel they are doing an unfair share. All this crap about "men don't do housework" etc is simply because women allow themselves to be in a relationship with a man who doesn't do housework. If women stopped enabling this shit, it would stop happening!!

PlasticPlantsDontDie · 09/04/2022 07:22

All this crap about "men don't do housework" etc is simply because women allow themselves to be in a relationship with a man who doesn't do housework. If women stopped enabling this shit, it would stop happening!!

It doesn’t work like that in reality. Pressures, expectations, childcare division. People get away with what they can.

Snorkello · 09/04/2022 07:30

Looks like the proposal would be civil not criminal. As in you can bring a civil case against your partner but you can’t call the police on them.

@DropYourSword so true, but it’s not always as straightforward as that. Culture, financial situations, relationship intricacies, personality traits etc. all play a role in how partnerships work. From a feministic political perspective it’s interesting to see how it would drive equality forward.

VikingVolva · 09/04/2022 07:34

I mean obviously people wouldnt really report their spouses to the police for not doing the washing up

Controlling wankers would

It's going to happen ncrease the possibilities for domestic abuse

TimBoothseyes · 09/04/2022 07:35

@DealWithTheDevilAtTheCrossroad

I'd be categorically opposed to this.

My DH would be given the right to initiate criminal proceedings against me!

Mine too.

DropYourSword · 09/04/2022 07:35

@PlasticPlantsDontDie

All this crap about "men don't do housework" etc is simply because women allow themselves to be in a relationship with a man who doesn't do housework. If women stopped enabling this shit, it would stop happening!!

It doesn’t work like that in reality. Pressures, expectations, childcare division. People get away with what they can.

It works exactly like that in my reality!

FOJN · 09/04/2022 07:43

@PlasticPlantsDontDie

All this crap about "men don't do housework" etc is simply because women allow themselves to be in a relationship with a man who doesn't do housework. If women stopped enabling this shit, it would stop happening!!

It doesn’t work like that in reality. Pressures, expectations, childcare division. People get away with what they can.

I understand your objection but if people get away with what they can then who is letting them get away with it?

balalake · 09/04/2022 07:58

There is a Presidential election tomorrow and then a second round of voting. Could this idea be linked to it?

beattieedny · 09/04/2022 08:01

Good grief, talk about government overreach.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 09/04/2022 08:11

I'd certainly put it in the divorce petition. But have your partner prosecuted I'm not sure.

FourChimneys · 09/04/2022 08:24

Goodness me, I wouldn't want to be reported. DH does most of the housework here, I'm too busy running a business.

No idea why women enable lazy men though. Thread after thread...

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 09/04/2022 08:31

@FourChimneys

Goodness me, I wouldn't want to be reported. DH does most of the housework here, I'm too busy running a business.

No idea why women enable lazy men though. Thread after thread...

I'm a single parent running a businesss. I still manage to do all the housework.

Using your business as an excuse not to do the housework and leaving your husband to do it is exactly what those threads after threads are about. You know, the ones about lazy men. Except, in your case, you're the last woman.

Having a "big job" is not an excuse to leave your partner to do the housework. I'm astounded that in one breath you say you're too busy and in the second, you say that you cant believe the number of threads about lazy men. And you dont even realise you're one of the lazy partners those threads are about.

Mumoblue · 09/04/2022 08:36

Astounding how these threads always come round to it being women’s fault that men don’t do housework. How many of you can honestly say the division of labour in your house is equal?
Luckily I’m well rid of my lazy ex, but I consider it very important to teach my son to clean up after himself- I don’t want him thinking that women will be clearing up after him his whole life.

WhiteFire · 09/04/2022 08:42

@Mumoblue

Astounding how these threads always come round to it being women’s fault that men don’t do housework. How many of you can honestly say the division of labour in your house is equal? Luckily I’m well rid of my lazy ex, but I consider it very important to teach my son to clean up after himself- I don’t want him thinking that women will be clearing up after him his whole life.

Absolutely. It is always the woman's fault.

RandomNumb3rs · 09/04/2022 08:49

Interesting perspective @BeforeGodAndAllTheFish

I work about 50-60 hours per week. DH doesn’t work. Should we each do an even split of the household chores?

We don’t think so. Our assumption is that my 60 hour week is my contributor the household.

However you seem to imply that I am lazy and should split the housework evenly with DH.

In which case, it would be better for me if DH got a job and we both paid for a cleaner.

Pyewhacket · 09/04/2022 08:57

Must have been a slow day at The Times !.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 09/04/2022 09:00

@RandomNumb3rs

Nope. I was talking about a other poster who said she couldnt believe the number of threads about lazy men. Whilst doing no work herself because she has a big job.

All those threads that she was references are that exact situation. Thread after thread from part time working women or SAHM complaining that their husband comes home from work and doesnt lift a finger. The man is called lazy, as that poster above said. But its OK for her to not so any work because of her big job.

On mumsnet, men are lasy for working 60 hour weeks and doing no housework. But women arent because they're already contributing with their 60 hour week.

I sense a double standard.