Browsing by Author "Hakala, Marjo"

Objectives. In many families, housework is a daily topic of discussion and controversy. Although working life has changed, households have become more prosperous, and technology has become as a help in housework, there are still many household chores that need to be done. Women are still primarily responsible for doing housework, in addition to their own gainful employment. Spouse and children often play an assistant role. The same division of labour is also evident in girls’ and boys’ housework. Girls do a lot more housework than boys. The purpose of this study was study young people’s attitudes towards housework. Are young people required to do housework, and if so, do they agree to do it? How does the division of labour affect family relationships? Doing and not doing housework is an emotive topic. The views of young people on how they perceive their own roles and those of their carers as active agents in households are worth hearing. The research questions are: 1. How do young people feel about participating in housework? a) How does housework appear in family relationships? b) What do young people think about their own household skills? 2. How do young people feel about their own roles and the roles of adults in their family in taking part in housework? Methods. The quantitative material consisted of the answers to an e-questionnaire. The answerers were 55 ninth grades from an upper comprehensive school. The answers were processed using the SPSS program. The analysis used averages, cross tabulation, and Pearson’s correlation. Some of the results were tested with an even t-test and a chi-square test. Results and conclusions. Many young people are involved in doing housework because of their own choice. They also think that it is their duty. In their opinion they have good skills and they manage doing housework well. Girls do a lot more housework than boys and have a more positive attitude. Most young people find that the adults in their family take good care of the home and this makes them feel secure. Everyone agrees that doing housework is everybody’s responsibility. In home economics education it is important to strengthen the equal division of labor in housework. Particularly boys need to be encouraged to rely on their own abilities and to understand their role as an equal, responsible family members and not just a mom’s or wife’s helper.