For example, one person does laundry and dishes, while the other does cooking and carpool.
But does this method actually work?
His answer, point-blank: “No.
It’s not effective.”
The problem with dividing tasks in half.
The couples answered questions about their division of housework, relationship satisfaction, and perceived equity in the relationship.
“The issue with divvying tasks is that tasks vary in their qualities.
Some are more time-consuming, less pleasant, and more isolating than others.
Divvying tasks is rarely a fair process,” Carlson explains.
“Gender power in relationships means that women may be deferential to their male partners' desires and preferences.
Men may use that power to take on tasks that are more ‘enjoyable’ or less onerous.”
What to do instead.
Dividing tasks in half didn’t tend to make couples any happier in Carlson’s study.
But relationship quality did increase the more couplessharedtasksthat is, each partner does half of each task.
It justfeelsmore equal and mutual.
Alternate days or weeks.
Or maybe even do them together."
In other words, both people should be doing the laundry equally often.
Both people should be taking out the trash equally often.
The bottom line.
There’s no need to change something that’s working.
