Journal Entry 4

    During recent times, working life in most households has been severely changed due to the long-term pandemic. Many adults are unable to go to their office or workplaces unlike their usual routine anymore. As everyone knows, men, or husbands are typical to represent as someone who goes to work to financially support the family, meanwhile women, or wives play roles at home and babysit the children. Logically, men will be thought to do less works at home because they have spent their time and energy during their absence from home. Nonetheless, after pandemic locked the entire population from going outside, men are finally obligated to only stay indoors and practice work-from-home tasks. Due to this, they have more times in hand to help to their significant others or other family members with the chores.

    In my perspective, I do agree that men has become more involved with house chores during times they have spent at home. What is even more interesting is that we can fully admit that the jobs of keeping the house tidy and watching over children are not singlehandedly done by women any longer, but has been equally shared with them as well. I think by this way, we can nurture a better relationship with our loved ones.  According to Geiger (2016), many married couples agreed that sharing household chores is very important for a successful marriage. Moreover, men and their spouses can develop healthier relationship if they practice communication more often around the house. They can share stories or simply having casual talk about the weather or anything interesting to keep themselves connected with one another. Thus, it is proven that by doing chores together, both men and women can enjoy a better family life.

    Next, by dividing the chores equally, we can create a fair rules where chores and childcare are not female-only jobs. Men are also responsible to carry this task even though many say that it is odd. In my opinion, we should drop this kind of gender stereotypes because it is not respectful to classify jobs to be done by specific genders. Instead, both sides should be tolerate with each other in order to not cause trouble and misunderstanding. Other than that, this is also to support women with tasks that they always do alone, and understand their reasons for looking tired every time men come back from work. 

    Thus, I concluded that I have positive attitudes towards the fact that now men can share responsibilities at home together with women during COVID-19 pandemic as I believe that men cannot be treated as if they are meant to never do women's works such as cooking, cleaning and babysitting. I hope this can stay longer as a norm so everyone can live happily.