In the United States there is a growing number of men who fulfill the domestic roles traditionally assigned to women. Known as househusbands or stay-at-home dads, the male spouse is the one who stays at home, cleans the house, takes care of the children, and goes grocery shopping. The wife is the breadwinner. When the wife is better educated or has a more lucrative career than her husband, this situation is not just possible but more feasible. Household chores need to be done, and it does not matter which of the two partners completes those tasks. In fact, some domestic chores involve heavy lifting, which makes them easier for the male partner to perform anyway. Many men find their role as a househusband rewarding, because it allows them to spend more time with their children ("The truth about life as a househusband"). As such family situations become more normalized, the stigma of gender role reversal regarding domestic duties will vanish. Domestic chores should be shared to promote egalitarian social norms and values of social justice. Children learn from their parents. Children who grow up in more egalitarian households will be more likely to mimic those behaviors in their own lives. Moreover, unequal role sharing in the household has a detrimental affect on women's income, self-esteem, and mental health. One study shows that "a more equitable distribution of work in the home is necessary before labor market inequalities between the sexes can be ameliorated," (Coverman). Inequality in the home is therefore a strong reflection of grosser inequalities in the world at large. Coverman notes...

Regardless of earnings potential, when both partners work, women should not be expected to perform the majority of household duties. The very concept is blatantly unfair and reflects the sexism that lingers in our society.
Domestic partners must redefine their roles, responsibilities, and relationships to account for the shift in social values and gender norms. Women who work outside the home are already undervalued on the labor market, as earnings for females remains less than their male counterparts in the same position. Domestic labor has traditionally been undervalued, too, with household and childcare chores considered "women's work" undeserving of pay. Changes are already taking place, as more and more men are choosing to stay at home and raise their children while their career-oriented spouses are earning as much money as possible for the family. When both spouses work, it only makes sense to split domestic chores equally according to talents and strengths -- or hire professionals if possible.

Works Cited

"Behavior: Swapping Family Roles." Time. 22 Nov 1971. Retrieved 18 Nov 2009 from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,905554,00.html

Coverman, Shelley. "Gender, Domestic Labor Time, and Wage Inequality." American Sociological Association. 1983.

"The Truth about Life as a Househusband." Guardian. Retrieved 18 Nov 2009 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2005/oct/27/childrensservices.familyandrelationships