Men Should Do ‘Traditional’ Chores Too

Re “Who’s in Charge?” (Sept. 27): I agree that swapping traditional marital roles can work for some couples, but it’s too bad we can’t swap bodies also. How inconvenient for the breadwinner and employer to experience a bed-rest pregnancy, or the more common conditions such as morning sickness, frequent urination, inability to wear shoes, etc., not to mention the actual birth and recovery. How unlucky for the baby that breast-feeding becomes problematic, cut short, or eliminated entirely.

As for housework, it is ridiculous to excuse a house husband from the traditional housewife duties of daily cleaning, cooking, laundry and shopping in exchange for maintenance and yardman, arguably the difference between a full-time job and an hour or two weekly. Accept the drudgery along with the fun, guys.

Since the women’s movement was about fairness, not androgyny, equality in the three Rs (respect, rest and recreation) should be the goal in any marriage. A man’s numerous anatomical and cultural advantages over a woman should free up enough of his time to enable him to perform both the traditionally male and female tasks at home. Now, that might be fair!

--THERESA CARNELL

Bakersfield