Breaking stereotypes: Encouraging boys to share household chores

By Tanish Bakshi

Doing dishes, washing laundry, and keeping a house tidy are the skills every parent must teach their sons. Using gender as an excuse to exempt boys from household chores isn’t valid. All children can benefit from participating in chores, regardless of their gender.

One reason for this disparity can be attributed to household chores, as several studies have pointed out that girls are often assigned more housework than boys. In fact, one study found that, on average, girls spent two more hours on chores per week, while boys had more free time to play.

So, why shouldn’t your sons help you with household chores? Parents, especially those with boys, it’s time to address this issue. Here are reasons why you should encourage your boys to contribute to household tasks, starting today:

1. It helps challenge gender stereotypes: Even in the year 2023, certain gender stereotypes persist, such as the notion that “girls should be responsible for household chores.”

However, if we consider it, neither males nor females are born with an innate ability or predisposition to wash dishes or do laundry. So, why should one gender be favoured over the other for these chores, by us or society?

Gender stereotyping can be detrimental, as it ingrains preconceived notions and ideas in the minds of both boys and girls. As they grow up, this may limit their ability to develop personal skills, pursue their dreams (both professionally and otherwise), and make life choices.

No parent would want such limitations for their children, right?

2 It instills responsibility: Every parent desires their children to grow into responsible adults. But when we refrain from assigning household chores to our boys, it conveys the message that they can make a mess without consequences, and that girls will clean up after them. Conversely, it teaches girls that housework is exclusively their responsibility.

So, young boys like me are poised to challenge these stereotypes at an early age.

Kudos to the mother for raising a gentleman!