Men about the house...

AFTER Father’s Day on Sunday, dads have been given a further boost with news that they are becoming domestic gods.

New research shows that the value of work fathers do around the house has nearly doubled during the past four years as men take on more domestic chores.

Richard Hooton asked shoppers in Oldham if the man around the house is much more likely to pick up a feather duster or scrub the oven in the 21st century.


A MAN’S work is never done according to the latest survey — but he doesn’t seem to mind.

Research from insurer Legal and General shows that men now spend an average of 53 hours a week carrying out household chores and childcare — up from 34 hours four years ago.

They spend around 21.5 hours looking after children, 9.5 hours doing household tasks, 7.5 hours cleaning and six hours cooking.

It’s been calculated that all this work would cost £23,296 to pay someone else to do.

Shoppers in Oldham agreed that times and traditional gender roles are changing.

Christine Stansfield (59), from Oldham, said she couldn’t see men doing as much as 53 hours a week on household chores and childcare.

But she added: “They do more now, definitely. They help the wives out with the children more now as well.

“They might do housework but it’s not as thorough though. They are not going in the corners or under the bed with the hoover. I’m married. I work part-time and look after two children. My husband helps as men do more now.”

Brian Reay (60), from New Moston, said: “I have always done housework. Needs must, especially when I was younger and we were both working. It was a balancing act.

“There’s still an old fashioned attitude that men don’t do housework but my sons-in-law do their fair share, so yes, times are changing. I’m happy to do my share, I think I’m the best cook.

“If she’s cooking then I wash up and I Hoover and iron. That’s because my mum brought me up right.”

He believes men are more likely to stay at home while their wife works, adding: “If your wife has a better job you have to stay at home. It depends who brings the money in.”

Jim Dolan (77), of Higher Blackley, said: “I do my fair share of housework. I think men are more likely to do it now — there’s nothing else for us to do!”

Wife Mary (76) said: “He does help. We wash up together and he Hoovers but he can’t make a bed. I think younger men are more likely to do housework as women go to work.”

Irene Buckley (69), from Oldham, has been married for 47 years and worked full-time while bringing up one child.

She said: “The men used to work such long hours that the woman actually did it all automatically.

“I can’t understand why the younger ones aren’t doing it for the blokes that are working hard.

“I think men may do housework if the women are working and they are out of a job.

“I did all the housework. We had a routine. He made my tea once when I was working late — it was a slice of toast! I had one child so it was easy. I worked full-time as soon as he got to school and his gran would pick him up.”

While blokes from a younger generation think men are doing more, they are happy to let women do the housework.

David Watkins (24), from Sharston, said: “I’m pretty old fashioned and I think the woman should do most of it. I live on my own — maybe that’s why.”

Neil Price (23), from Heald Green, said: “I don’t do anything. My mum does everything. When I move out I might do one or two hours a week. I think men are changing — women are putting them under pressure.”