More Dishwashing, Less Sex?
The New York Times Sunday Magazine struck a nerve over the weekend with a story entitled: "Does a More Equal Marriage Mean Less Sex?"Based on a study in the American Sociological Review entitled, "Egalitarianism, Housework, and Sexual Frequency in Marriage," the article had produced 862 on-line comments by Monday afternoon. (Many were modern versions of the out-of-date but perhaps apropos term, "Poppycock!"
The study found:
"that when men did certain kinds of chores around the house, couples had less sex. Specifically, if men did all of what the researchers characterized as feminine chores like folding laundry, cooking or vacuuming — the kinds of things many women say they want their husbands to do — then couples had sex 1.5 fewer times per month than those with husbands who did what were considered masculine chores, like taking out the trash or fixing the car. It wasn’t just the frequency that was affected, either — at least for the wives. The more traditional the division of labor, meaning the greater the husband’s share of masculine chores compared with feminine ones, the greater his wife’s reported sexual satisfaction."I'd like to hear readers' opinion. Not to mention that of noted dishwasher and laundryman James Born. As I am temporarily single, I don't get a vote.
Putin Gives Me a Pain
I don't know about you, but I just don't like looking at the pompous and arrogant Vladimir Putin, and he's taking the fun out of the Olympics for me. (I half expected the little weasel Edward Snowden to show up at the Opening Ceremonies with the Russian strongman).At least, humorist Andy Borowitz made me laugh with his New Yorker tomfoolery, "Sochi Hotel Guests Complain About Topless Portraits of Putin in Rooms."
Paul Levine
There are far too many jokes to be made here. Allow me to start with , "What''s 1.5 fewer than zero?"
ReplyDeleteMy statistics background comes in handy. Did the researchers look at other factors? Could it be that men who did those chores did not want to have more sex? I don't know or care, but it could be a factor. I cook around our house because I'm big and like to eat. No one seasons things the way I prefer except me. I do the traditional man's labor and take a shot at laundry but my wife likes to do it her way. I think the study is probably flawed.
I purposely made no comment yesterday and got a couple of emails. We all have our opinions and I have learned not to try to explain things to people who have their minds made up already. So I stayed out of it. Plus, I don't care about Woody Allen or virtually any other celebrity. Sorry Phillip Seymour Hoffman died. Sorrier my friend Carl's mom died. Got plenty to keep me busy.
Regarding men who do housework wanting less sex. Perhaps they now know what women have always known: after doing all that laundry and cooking and vacuuming and window washing, you're just too damn tired.
ReplyDeletePutin: Gak! I agree completely. I haven't watched any of the competition after the Russians reportedly began killing innocent stray dogs--dogs that are homeless because their people were pushed out of their houses to make way for roads to the Olympics venues.
James O, you'd better comment next time. I know where you live. Just sayin.
Paulie, what do you mean? You're not single.
Patty, I'm just temporarily between wives. More on that later.
ReplyDeleteLaundryman Jim. I agree. That study is ludicrous.
Now, excuse me, I have dishes to do.
And BTW, my house is always a mess :O)
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