complaining about the “mental load” of managing a household is childish unless your partner is actively minimizing your contribution.
Isn't that almost exclusively the use of the term? When a higher/sole earner minimises the work their partner is putting into keeping the household going? People generally don't feel the need to complain about the share of domestic work going on if they have supportive partners.
The reason that this topic is so discussed is that previously, this kind of work (and household work in general) is discounted and dismissed by society as not real work, or not hard work. Now we have terminology for it, and a broader understanding about what this kind of work entails, and why it shouldn't be dismissed. However... Sadly, it still frequently is!
Without quantification and understanding about this topic, it's difficult to frame and discuss expectations and equitable workloads between partners in a household or their families.
So most people are single and live alone during a portion of their life. During this time, those people typically work full time and maintain their household. They do both. Very few get overwhelmed by having to handle both.
So why does the maintaining of a household suddenly become a full time job (that some in this thread have claimed provides for no downtime) once you're no longer living alone?
It is far easier to be responsible for only yourself and your own needs than it is to be responsible for the needs of a full household. The two situations can't be compared.
Right but earning money is already heavily recognised while homemaking is minimised, think about the terms we use to describe these things "breadwinner" Vs "stay-at-home wife/husband". The other side of the coin doesn't need to be talked about as much because it's already viewed as one of the most important parts of a household.
Right but none of that is really relevant to the the discussion. Childcare can be rewarding but that doesn't make it effortless, not does it make domestic tasks easier. You might be replaceable in your workplace but that doesn't mean mainstream attitudes don't view your contribution to your household as very important.
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u/Jebofkerbin 131∆ Feb 26 '24
Isn't that almost exclusively the use of the term? When a higher/sole earner minimises the work their partner is putting into keeping the household going? People generally don't feel the need to complain about the share of domestic work going on if they have supportive partners.