Cleaning, cooking and basic home management is a hot button issue among couples. It is one of the things that often causes a whole lot of strife in a marriage or partnership. The hard truth is that women do more around the house regardless of work status. While it has gotten better over the past few decades, it is still assumed that women are in charge of domestic matters, such as cooking, cleaning and other drudgery. Until we reject that notion, our sons and daughters will grow up and perpetuate the cycle. Even in childhood, girls do more chores than boys and receive less recognition for doing so.

According to research done by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, girls do approximately thirty percent more chores than boys. They also receive less praise for chores. Boys even receive more allowance for chores than girls do!

Rejecting the strict gender roles can be difficult for many that were raised in home in which the gender roles were strictly defined. How are young boys going to learn how to clean and the fact that they are just as responsible for girls if we don't teach them? While society and the media certainly play a part, much of it starts with the parents.

Model an egalitarian relationship for your children. Make it a point to step back and evaluate whether or not you treat your children equally in that realm. It can be difficult to break old pattern and habits. It's also quite revolutionary to create new ones. We can create a new normal if we work at it. Men can wash dishes, change diapers. Don't raise your son to be helpless. Otherwise, his future wife will hate you.