Couples in their 30s with dual incomes tend to have a higher household chore distribution ratio. In contrast, the middle-aged generation still holds the view that household chores are primarily a woman's responsibility. In particular, it is not uncommon for husbands who retired long ago to not share household chores, leading to complaints from their wives. Many wives also express that they dislike kitchen work as they age. They want to 'retire' from cooking and doing dishes. Let's take another look at household labor and the roles of couples.
Household Labor Still Concentrated on Women..."Even If I Work Hard, It Doesn't Show"
Household labor is seen as a task that is physically burdensome yet difficult to be compensated for. While there is a strong perception that the person with more free time should take on more responsibilities (52.6%), household labor is still concentrated on women. This is based on a survey conducted by Embrain Trend Monitor among 1,000 men and women aged 19 to 69 nationwide. Female respondents tended to rate their share of household labor higher (46.8% for men, 69.3% for women). Married women, in particular, dedicated relatively more time to household labor. They felt that the intensity and burden of household labor were at a very high level.
Husband Retired Long Ago, Just Playing the Role of a "Stay-at-Home Husband"..."Can't Even Go Out Freely"
Middle-aged women's complaints become prominent after their husbands retire. Wives encourage their husbands to take a comfortable rest after a lifetime of hard work for a few months. They even travel together. However, after more than a year, the situation changes. If the husband does not even glance at household chores and has all three meals at home, the wife's frustration boils over. He plays the role of a "stay-at-home husband" (having three meals at home). Even when the refrigerator is full of food, there are some who will only eat if their wives set the table. When thinking about living this way for another 20 to 30 years, wives feel mentally and physically exhausted.
Young Husbands Taking Parental Leave..."Times Have Changed Significantly"
Recently, young husbands taking parental leave have been increasing, especially in large corporations. The perception that strong husbands are better at taking care of babies is spreading. In the past, men couldn't even think about taking parental leave due to the eyes of their superiors and colleagues. However, nowadays, there is a tendency for husbands to focus more on household chores to support their wives' career development. Today's young husbands are good at cleaning, doing dishes, and even cooking, which increases their wives' satisfaction. Some even take on almost all household chores to prepare for their pregnant wives.
"Housewives Should Have a Retirement Age" vs "Household Chore Distribution Benefits Husband's Health"
Recently, retired husbands are also increasingly sharing household chores. They learn to clean, do dishes, and even cook. However, it is still not the norm. If physical activity decreases after retirement, health can deteriorate. Aging also accelerates. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), good physical activity for health includes not only formal exercise but also household chores. Doing dishes and cleaning after meals is good for blood sugar management. Not moving after eating is the worst. Middle-aged housewives in households where husbands still avoid entering the kitchen may want to argue that household work also has a 'retirement age.' In an era where couples may live together for 20 to 30 years after their children marry and move out, household chores have become a matter of 'sharing' rather than just 'helping.'
