What is the Man’s work, what is the Woman’s?

The question. What is the man’s work and what is the woman’s work. I think it stems back as far as the history of the human race. I believe marriages were totaled by the question, or should I say, argument? It is something that people want to define, yet it remains indefinable in general.

I want to take on this argument and fragment it. Reasoning’s, most often, gets bogged down by personal insecurities, and also by over inflated egos. At this stage I still don’t want to touch on the male-female differences in arguments. Best I take it step by step. I do not want to antagonize. I did a few years back, but with mixed reactions. I made a statement to the fact: ‘Men who deems some work as a woman’s, are insecure with their own manliness. ’ Needless to say, I was a hero to some and a traitor to some. The fact was that I was true in my belief.

Going back through the ages, there were so many instances where the woman did most of the work and the men used the excuse of being on guard. They had to protect the woman, the children and the village. So, man placed himself on the lookout, which I suppose grew into a pedestal. They would get drunk, argue, and fight. Most probably, they would then say it was a mock battle to keep their fighting skills sharp. The woman had to have babies, raise children and crops, feed children and husbands, and so ended up mankind, living very unsanitary lives, because there hardly was any time left to clean up.

As time passed and woman became strong willed, men had to back down a bit and start sharing some of the chores. So it happened that they decided to do the outside work. There they could still keep watch and work. So the man became a useful object around the house. But, they had the line drawn at what they will do and what not. And those lines remained, though dimmed somewhat.

Say 30-40 years back, modern society was modern. Nobody denied it, though nobody knew what was to come. Still, there were some areas where men did not enter and did not let woman intrude. It took ages before women were allowed into clubs and pubs. That was the men’s domain. There they got drunk, argued and battled. They would never do washing, clean house, cook or darn clothes. That was meant for woman, sissies and ninnies. The bad side to it was that a lot of these men were not married, and lived in absolute filth. The upside was, if they could afford a cleaner, it was creating job opportunities. If there were not enough money, mother or sister had to come and visit and clean up during the brief visit. Men were so into it. Men went to the army to learn to fight. Most of them also learnt how to wash, iron, and make beds, cook and all the other stuff that used to be only work for women. As soon as they leave the army, they are the macho ex-soldiers who do not do any cleaning, ironing or anything else for that matter. What a lot of bull.

When I was a child, we were a family of boys. The only girl in the house was not a girl, but a lady . That was our mother. We adored and loved her dearly. We did not have a maid, so from an early age, we had to learn to do everything around the house. Not only on the inside, but also outside. We had to help my Mom and could not let her do all the chores and act out our ‘Manliness’. We learnt how to cook by the age of five. We learnt how to darn our clothes. We learnt how to clean. And it never dawned on us that we are busy doing girls’ work. It was not even a question in mind.

We were darling little angels inside, but when we got outside, it became another story. We battled each other, but also every other boy in the area. So there were never anybody who dared say that we were busy doing girls work. We were healthy little boys who loved girls and admired them, because we did not have the luxury of a sister to do everything around the house, or to give us another insight into the whims of girls.

Now, after the long elaboration and oration, I have to get to the question once again. What is a man’s work and what is a woman’s. I will remain with my steadfast believe in the fact that there should be no differentiation. If you love one another, and are partners, then all chores can be shared and I think it can only strengthen a man’s role. If a man is secure with his manliness, no work can take it away. It is a man that will help his partner, wife or lover. Not a sissy or ninny. If you are truly man enough in yourself, nobody will ever doubt the fact, even if you share some of the household chores.

Now, I think there shouldn’t be any argument about it anymore. Be a partnership, not just a relationship. But whatever ship, make it sail. No task deserves a label ‘Reserved for Woman’, or vice versa.