Gender Roles Are A-Changin’…Big Reax to Our Story
EmailWe received a lot of interesting response after our piece last night about the recession impacting traditional gender roles. (Click here to watch).
In short, Dan Harris looked at how a good chunk of those loosing their jobs are men and that means women are becoming the primary bread winners in more and more households. Shaking up the roles in a home can have big impact on a couple. There was one woman in the story that said she struggled with her husband’s loosing his job and the subsequent role reversal in their home. She is now the main breadwinner and said this about her husband: "I wish I could say something different, but I’ve lost so much respect for him."
Lots of reaction to that and other aspects of the story:
"I think that lady that said she lost respect for her husband because of a job loss better apologize to him. It wasn’t his fault, first of all, and the bible says to respect your husband, the head of the family, no matter what! – Marti"
"It’s hard to respect anyone – man or woman – who does not pay the bills. – Alana"
"I hear everyone saying "gender roles" Hey everyone! Pitch in and do your part to help your family. The washing machine does not have my wife’s name on it nor the dishwasher. Let’s get real! – Jason."
"It’s interesting that in this episode only the younger generation was represented. My husband, who has worked in management for mental health/substance abuse agencies for the last ten years lost his job due to organizational structuring six months ago at the age of 55 while I continue to work to support the family. For most of our 26 years of marriage, he has been the main supporter; now at 55, his chances of getting a job in the mental health field is limited due to restructuring of most of the state and federal government jobs and their propensity to hire a younger generation at a lower rate of pay. Very scary times for so many…Thank-you, Claire"
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Didn’t gender roles change a long time ago?
Posted by: Keith | May 5, 2009, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
Well this is a tough subject.Living in the no.6 location of hardest places to get a job in America makes it even worse. For our 28 years of marriage and her staying home to raise the kids to now, no kids at home just me with no job. 6 mos. have passed now and not even 1 interview,not even a call. Sell the house and move,then my wife isn’t working but as a teacher she might get a job,but oh sell the house in today’s market in my area,never happen. I have always shared the duties as we are a team but you talk about losing your self-esteem and then you feel you really don’t have a say in the house fiances even though it was you who got us to the point where we are.We can make it on one salary,even a teachers salary because I always said live within your means.Employers…at least send an email saying you filled the job or you were just seeing what is out there.Those of us looking through no fault of our own know it is not our fault but it is really trying on the self-esteem even the strong willed.But remember the vows,through good times or bad,thick or thin,sickness and health we promise to be by each others side in this journey of life.Good Luck to all.
Gary
Posted by: Gary | May 5, 2009, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
That’s “losing.” Not “loosing.”
C’mon, peeps!
Thanks,
Posted by: Luis Maimoni | May 5, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
Baby boomers are aging. Hence, possible male baby boomers are aging while younger female significant others are in the workplace. Thus, could the gender role change be contributed towards a demanding younger society?
Posted by: Peter Johansen | May 5, 2009, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
I am a Retired Person from India.I am at Present Getting Used to Switching Roles .It is always Difficult for Men to Adjust to Switching Roles because Male Ego hurts badly . But in Western Countries Men and Women Share Domestic Chores . This is not so in Countries like India and Pakistan where it affects Day to Day life Pretty Badly in Situations like this . People should learn to Live within their Means.They Must Change their Life Style Completely . Apart from Switching Roles at Home they Must Drastically Reduce their Meat , Drinks and Cigarettes Intake . This will Not Only Cut Short Their Monthly Expenses But Also make them Very Healthy . This Type of Life Style will Enable them to Reduce their Medical Bills Drastically . AS it is a Forced Situation for Men they should make Best Use of the Available Time by Spending Maximum Time with their Children and make them Happy in all Respects, including their Studies, to the Extent Possible .
Posted by: SIVARAM POCHIRAJU | May 5, 2009, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
What a gift for these dads to get! This is a chance to bond with your child at a young precious age that will never come back. Perhaps if we see the unexpected benefits that come with these hard changes, it may enlighten us and change our lives in a very good way!
Posted by: Lisa Horner | May 5, 2009, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
There are no gemder roles today. Thank Goodness. When I was working as was my husband I used to say, “while I love my husband, what I really need is a wife.” She could keep the household running smoothly.
Posted by: Barbara Lake | May 5, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
Everyone is aging at the same rate; nobody is exempt – except if you die young.
The wives who are working are usually the original wife.
A trophy wife will leave if the guy can’t ‘cut it’.
Your theory, Pete, just doesn’t hold water.
Posted by: Proud B.B. | May 5, 2009, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
I was disappointed about the story’s portrayal of male nurses. I am a nursing professor. Using the term “Mary Poppins” when discussing the gentleman who decided to go to nursing school was offensive to me. Men who choose to enter this profession should not be stereotyped as being less masculine. Nursing is a wonderful profession that is based upon scientific principles. I would love to see World News do a story on the increasing number of men joining the nursing profession and the rewards that it offers to all genders.
Posted by: Heather Kendall | May 5, 2009, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
This story bugged me on a couple of levels… first, since women have entered the workforce, we have increasingly taken on traditional “manly” attitudes. The statement that men feel the loss of identity that comes with job loss more than women doesn’t apply now. I have worked since I was 15 and recently I lost my job – and I feel I lost a great deal of what makes me worthwhile to my family – just like a man.
Second, the woman who has lost respect for her unemployed husband has it wrong – he’s not laying about the house doing nothing – he’s providing services to his family that, if they had to be paid for, would net him a tidy income. Plus, and most important, he is establishing a much stronger relationship with his kids and that can only pay off big in their futures.
I totally agree with the other writer who expressed the idea first – I always told my kids that the dishes don’t care whose hand washes them, the clothes don’t care who folds them and the dust tries to overwhelm everyone…
It’s time this gender-related farce comes to an end… when work needs to be done it doesn’t matter who does it – just that it gets done.
Posted by: Jerri Manry | May 6, 2009, 8:16 am 8:16 am
Jeez! I thought the fact that no one has interviewed me for a full-time job since March 2000 was because I was an older woman. When I was a political science major, I learned that when two rights are in conflict, one is not right. So which is? Do people have the right to continually pass me over or do I have the right to work? As I am about to lose my home through no fault of my own, do I have the right to sue any and all people who failed to hire me?
Posted by: Susan Wozniak | May 6, 2009, 9:13 am 9:13 am
My wife and I switched roles over a year ago, by our choice so she could pursue a full-time career and I could care for our three children. I can tell you from my experience that gender role stereotypes still exist. Sometimes it is blatant, like businesses that do not have changing tables in the men’s restrooms, but more often it is more subtle. People ask if I am babysitting today, comment on what a great thing I am doing, and act amazed that I can cook and care for my kids. The implication, while unintentional, is that men are incapable of doing the things that women typically do, and that women are supposed to do them. I have much more to say, but I have a household to run.
Posted by: Lee Fowlkes | May 6, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Since women have a history of having to do more to achieve less, they are quick learners willing to attempt most any task and are usually successful at that task. Men tend to be more single minded. Many are not interested in a different type of position, or a job that is outside their realm of knowledge.
Posted by: Lana Mundell | May 6, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm