Overcoming gender expectations is tough. From infancy, we are all indoctrinated in ways subtle and overt to fulfill a rigid set of expectations foisted upon us by society. I have only the highest respect for people of all genders who are taking a stand against the normative and reductive ways in which we have been categorized and labeled.
Personally, I’m challenging gender roles by proving women can be just as ineffective as men when it comes to basic chores.
Leaving dishes soaking overnight in the sink and letting laundry pile up on the floor were once considered the exclusive domain of men. Not so anymore. I can do all that and more — my toilet is not scrubbed, my floors are not vacuumed, and my leftovers rotted in the fridge weeks ago. There are probably some other chores I am not doing, but I wouldn’t know what they are.
Taking out the trash, maybe? I think that happens on Thursdays? Someone should probably look into it. Not me, though. I’m too busy thinking the big thoughts.
My husband and housemates might allege that I am “lazy” or “not pulling my weight” around our shared house. They might say it isn’t fair that I ate the chilli which Nick made last night, but left my bowl on the table and went to my room to rewatch Succession when everyone else was helping to clean up. They might suggest that, in the rare instances where I do my own laundry, I shouldn’t forget it in the washing machine until Erin finally tosses up her hands and switches it to the dryer for me. They might argue that if nothing else, I should at least be respecting the time and energy of the female and non-binary people who share space with me by not creating extra work for them. To that, I say, stop hating on women who are succeeding in male-dominated fields.
I have weaponized my own incompetence against the patriarchy. If the price that must be paid is that of a clean, livable home, so be it. Great movements always require sacrifices.
Consider the glass ceiling shattered — but don’t expect me to help sweep up the shards.