06.30.05
Spanish law to force men to do housework
Spain could be about to change its laws on marriage to enforce equality of the sexes and fair division of household chores, according to this report in The Australian. It’s written by Emma-Kate Symons, who worked at The Australian when I was there and is now a Paris-based contributor. I caught up with her when I went to Paris in March.
The story says:
Changes to the marriage contract supported by the Socialist Government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, along with conservative Catholic and right-wing politicians, will force men and women to promise not only fidelity but equal shares of housework, childrearing and care of the elderly until death they do part.
It’s quite radical for a country like Spain, which still has that macho Latin edge and, so E-K writes, mothers do their adult sons’ washing and young girlfriends prepare all the meals for their partners as a matter of course. Of course, it’s largely symbolic since it will be almost impossible to enforce but apparently judges will look at how well men have lived up to this promise when considering divorce settlements.
It’s fascinating to see how another culture has chosen to respond to this challenge – I can’t imagine this ever happening in an Anglo country.
Although it’s interesting, I must admit I find it quite bizarre. For starters, I find it bizarre that the Government would legislate what goes in the marriage vows. I think these should be personal and reflect what the couple believes in and wants. And while, I think equality of the sexes is a good thing, this is blatant social engineering. I do really dislike paternatlistic governments that presume to say how people should live or what they should believe in. Finally, if both couples are working then housework should arguably be divided equally but if one half is financially supported by the other half then they might regard doing extra housework as a fair compromise. Surely everyone is different and it depends on each individual couple’s circumstances?
And how will this stop the given examples of mothers washing the clothes of their adult sons or girlfriends cooking every night for their boys? They’re not married – they’re not breaking any law!
Caitlin said,
July 3, 2005 at 1.29 pm
I forgot to say – one of the funny things the article mentions is that manufacturers are now producing washing machines with fingerprint technology so they won’t let the same people do the washing twice in a row!
Of course, the story behind the story is that this is an initiative of the new Socialist government, elected after the Madrid bombings. They are also passing a law to allow gay marriage (which I approve of but the average Spaniard likely doesn’t).
Satan said,
July 4, 2005 at 7.47 pm
I, for one, welcome the new Spanish Government. I look forward to doing that much less washing up.