by Heather Webb

Created on: July 04, 2009   Last Updated: July 11, 2009

I am going to answer this question for men. I realize it is difficult to grasp how women feel about housework. We are conditioned from birth to be the housewives, raising the kids, cleaning the house and looking fantastic 24/7. To an extent, we strive for this, however, this is not exactly what we want.

Houses get dirty, even with the cleanest of people. Dishes will always need washed, pillows fluffed, laundry cleaned and floors swept. In general, women want these things to happen. We women want the clean house. In most cases, we do not even mind doing the cleaning. However, we do not want this to be our job.

In addition to the cookie-cutter, Disney image we have been fed our whole lives of what women should be, we have also been told we could be anything we wanted to be. In school, we got the grades and, in the workplace, we do the job. We want the careers, family and clean house. I know, we ask a lot, but so do men.

Men get it without asking, but we must nag. We want help cleaning the house and raising the kids. We'll pitch in for the yard work. Marriage is fifty-fifty, and do not let anyone tell you otherwise. If you get a career, why shouldn't we? If we clean the house, why shouldn't you? Fifty-fifty.

This is the simple stuff. Marriage is not easy and strain comes from every direction. Helping with the housework cuts out one of the stresses. There will be illnesses, unexpected bills and disasters. You cannot plan for everything, but pitching in with the housework will keep your relationship closer for when the crap hits the fan.

In case you are still wondering, here is a rule of thumb: if you contribute to mess, help clean it up. If the windows have your hand print on it, assume you will be cleaning the window. If you wore clothes last week, assume you will be washing clothes this week. If you ate out of the dishes, pitch in some elbow grease. Pretty simple.

This does not mean women want you to mow the grass, clean the house, raise the kids, be the breadwinner, and do it all with perfectly chiseled abs, though we would not exactly be opposed (sarcasm). We want to share the load. Housework and careers are both full-time jobs, but two people can handle it.

Here's the real kicker: above all else, do not assume housework is a woman's job. We will clean, but it is not our job. More annoying than you leaving your boxers beside the hamper is assuming we will pick them up. That kind of thinking will land you on the couch.

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