I want to know! Ideal and Reality
According to a 2021 survey*1 of undergraduate and graduate students, the percentage of those who want to work together is the highest ever, andapproximately 84% of men are in favor of childcare participation. It seems that many young people want to work with their partners in the future while also cherishing their families.
On the other hand, a Tokyo Metropolitan Government survey*2 found that women of child-rearing age spend more than twice as much time as men on housework and childcare. The division of housework and childcare is skewed in favor of women, indicating that there is a gap between the ideal future image and the current situation. In order to change this situation, we would like toraise awareness of “home work” now and gradually increase what we can do.
It is such a good thing to be able to do housework!
I kind of understand that it is better to be able to do housework, but what exactly are the benefits in real life?
We asked 317 senior members of society
Advantages of acquiring housekeeping skills before entering the workforce*3
No. 1: Economic benefits (savings)
No. 2: I can cooperate with my partner and maintain a good relationship.
No. 3: More time to spare.
No. 4: Healthy with a well-balanced meal.
5th: Quality of life will increase.
No. 6: A clean and comfortable living environment.
7th: Easier to gain the trust of those around you and increase your likability.
When we asked working adults in their 20s and 30s, we received comments such as “Both of us can do housework, so we can be flexible when we are busy at work,” “It saves money and is economical,” and “Sharing household chores gives us more time to spend on our hobbies. One respondent said, “My food expenses have been cut in half since I started cooking for myself. After all, it never hurts to be able to do housework! On the other hand, it seems that many people have had a confusing experience with the division of housework.
A senior’s! Moya Moya Episo
EPISODE 1 – “Different Levels of Household Excellence Demanded”
A couple who have just moved in together. The man’s housework is not up to the level required by the woman, and the woman tends to complain more and more. The man, on the other hand, has a hard time not being thought of as good by his partner, even though he did it with the best of intentions…
Resolved thus! Advice from a senior… ♪
<Advice.
It is natural that different people have different standards and values for housework. It is important to respect the other person first before communicating your own feelings. If you are considering marriage, try to understand each other’s values regarding housework and build a mutually acceptable relationship!
<Advice.
The best thing you can do is to improve your housework skills! If you create chores that you are good at, you will be able to take charge of them with confidence, and you will be more inclined to share and enjoy the chores yourself.
EPISODE 2 “Pushing the Burden”
A couple is raising a child. On a day when the wife is on duty to pick up the children, she has to work overtime suddenly and asks her husband to pick up the children. When the wife returns home, the husband says to her, “Hurry up with the food! He was not happy. The wife is frustrated and says, “I told him I would be home late, so it would be great if he would prepare the meal for me…. On the other hand, the husband was exhausted after he managed to finish his work and pick up his children. When he takes a break, his wife turns grumpy and is perplexed…
Resolved thus! Advice from a senior… ♪
<Advice.
First of all, I have to express my gratitude for what you did! Housework is a team effort. It is a good idea to increase the number of chores you can do so that you can cooperate with each other in a pinch.
<Advice.
Working families have limited time, so it is a good idea to make use of outside services such as frozen foods, cleaning robots, and other shortcut items, as well as housekeeping services. There is no need to feel that you have to work hard as a couple!
Develop housekeeping skills before entering the workforce.
Household skills are not developed in a day!
It is important to acquire housework skills so that you can overcome situations like the bewildering episodes of our seniors in the future. To this end, working adults shared with us their tips for enjoying housework and shortening the time required, which are easy to tackle even before they start working.
These are all ideas that can be used by those who live alone as well as those who live at home. If you make it a habit to do so now, it will surely help you after you enter the workforce and will make it easier to balance family and work in the future.
Let’s start with what we can do for our ideal future.
By taking care of our daily activities, we can do our best at work and focus on what we love. One of the actions that make this possible is housework. When you actually do it yourself, you may think, “I want to do this more! I want to do it this way!” or “Can I do it this way? You will discover many new things. Let’s take on the challenge of making your ideal lifestyle come true!
(*1) Reference: Mynavi Lifestyle Survey of College Students Graduating in 2022, <Myself and Future Edition>.
*2）Reference: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, “Report on Survey of Men’s Participation in Housework and Childcare in Fiscal Year 2028.
(*3) Reference: Mynavi Student Window [Questionnaire survey on housework] 317 men and women in their 20s and 30s 2021.09.10~2021.09.13
*This article is a reprint of an article that appeared in the Mynavi Student Window from November 1 to December 26, 2021.
