What is a 'woman's job?'

[whatisawomansjob]

Hi everyone,

So I'd just like to know your definition of a woman's job? I don't mean work employment wise... I mean around the house, for the family, and would that person also work as well?

The reason I'm asking this is because apparently in my house, EVERYTHING is a woman's job! I just want to see mixed opinions from women and men... and how it impacts on your relationship please.

A woman's job is the same as a man's job. Both are equally responsible for earning money, housework and childcare.

The only things that are uniquely the responsibility of women are being pregnant, giving birth and breastfeeding.

I’m half hoping you’re joking and that you don’t actually think there is anything that can be classified as a “woman’s” job. DH and I tend to split chores based on who does a better job / notices the problem first. For example, never let him do the food shopping because it would be a disaster. If your other half doesn’t voluntarily do anything, you’ll need to point out 50% of the work is his, and negotiate who’ll be doing what going forward.

When the term “woman’s job” is used, it invariably refers to something that a man has deemed to be unworthy of his noble status.

There is no such thing except in the minds of very backwards men.

I should add that I would not stay in a relationship with anyone who tried to claim that aspects of housework/childcare were women's work. Sexist, misogynist bullshit!

Nothing is a 'woman's job' in my house. There is stuff that needs to be done and between me and DP it gets done.

No impact on the relationship, it's how it's always been

Sorry should have added “and some women who facilitate those men”

Things need doing around the house. These things are women’s jobs if it’s women that live in the house, men’s jobs if the household is male and men’s and women’s jobs in a mixed household.

If you don’t need a vagina to do the job it can be done by anybody and should not just fall to one person.

Equitable division of household jobs will depend upon household circumstances, but everyone should be chipping in according to ability.

Breast feeding

Christmas cards! Apparently they're a woman's job. This pisses me off, because it's so illogical.

My partner had a couple of elderly female relatives who had, of course, known him for his entire life. He never sent them Christmas cards.

But! As soon as it was known we were a serious couple, they expected Christmas cards. First I knew of this was after Christmas, when apparently there were sulks because I didn't send Christmas cards to strangers whose surnames/addresses/facial features I didn't even know.

Again: he had never sent cards to his elderly female relatives while he was single, and that was fine.

To answer your question, though, OP, housework should be shared. Would your partner cook/do laundry/hoover if he were single, or would it get done by magic housework spirits? Of course he'd do it if he were single. It's not fair to pass it all on to you.

Feeling like you're both on the same team is really important.

I agree that apart from gestating offspring and breastfeeding anything else can be done by both sexes

The only household task that is gendered in our house is that I am solely responsible for the bin containing my reusable sanitary towels (emptying/laundering). I also do the rest of my own washing (but not the washing of any adult males unless as a particular favour). But were it necessary for some reason, I would expect the favour of laundry to be returned, including pads if that was what needed doing.

There is 100% no such thing.

Though of course you might agree that one of you does this and the other does that

The only woman’s job I can think of is giving birth and breastfeeding, both obviously as the woman’s choice.
Everything else can be either and depends on the couple how they divide it

I can't really think of a household chore for which XX chromosomes are required.

In my house its a team effort, I watched my grandparents and mum do everything in the house and the men just sitting there. All the women worked as well and I when I started seeing DH I made sure that he knew that he is also responsible for the house keeping and cooking.

He now does it naturally now he knows that I expect to come home to a clean house when I am at work and I'll do the same. It works really well. If he wants a housekeeper he can pay me a minimum wage lol.

You asked for opinions from men and women.

I assume the statement that everything in your house is a woman's job has been made by a man?

Well, in this man's opinion, the man that said that is a fucking arsewipe of the first order and I'd be encouraging him to leave said house sooner rather than later if he didn't drop that attitude, put on the Marigolds, and clean the bloody toilet properly.

Nothing in our house. I don't see anything as solely my responsibility apart from maybe walking the dogs, as I had them when I met my DH. Saying that if he's on better shifts than me or I've got stuff to do, he of course walks them.

@ShatnersWig yes the statement has been made by a man...

I will add, we both work full time, I am breastfeeding my youngest daughter. So yes I agree that I my job for me specifically. But everything around the house and other bits and bobs is 'my job' in his mind set. I'm getting pretty pissed off by it! I work from home, and naturally I clean, cook etc etc but I'm getting fed up of being relied on for everything and moaned at for if something is dirty.

I wish I was joking about this post, I really do. And I am not sexist for one minute and believe it should be equal around the house. But he doesn't understand that because he has quite a physical job and I work from home. I always clean up the mess from my job at home.

I just needed to see others views as I know I can't be the only one thinking that this sort of view of everything being 'my job' is a joke!

Well it’s a woman’s job to birth babies , but apart from that, jobs can’t really be sexed.

You might like to read "Wifework".

In my house I state, does it need a vagina? In that case, anyone can do it.

So, a woman's job is something that needs a vagina or breasts, everything else, a man or a woman or kid can do it.

I can't be the only one thinking that this sort of view of everything being 'my job' is a joke!

It's not a joke. It's deadly serious and shows you his attitude towards you.

Sadly I don’t think this is uncommon at all! A shame since it’s a completely nonsensical and outdated view.

Does he do all the traditionally male jobs without reminder? DIY, mowing, hedgecutting, car maintenance, taking out the bins.

I ask cos you often find the household becomes "modern" in that the woman ends up doing all that as well.