Household chores and division of labour can be a divisive topic if you live with your partner, and some new data from BC Hydro might be unsurprising on that front.
The utility conducted a survey about B.C. couples and “who is better at chores” as we approach one of what it calls the “biggest battlegrounds,” spring cleaning.
BC Hydro’s survey was conducted from Jan 22 to 26 this year, and it questioned nearly 1,000 British Columbians aged 18 and over.
BC Hydro says the survey revealed that while couples are aligned when it comes to wanting a fresh and organized home, they’re less united on the path to it.
One of the first points of contention is the dreaded laundry day.
BC Hydro says that 60 per cent of B.C. residents believe they’re better at handling it than their partner. The survey reveals that of those, 82 per cent are women, and just 35 per cent are men, “a gap likely tied to the fact that women are three times as likely to do the laundry in their relationship.”
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Have you ever argued with your partner about the temperature in your home?
The survey suggests that one in five couples admit to daily temperature disputes, and that men are ten per cent more likely to take control, and 77 per cent of them insist they’re better at setting it correctly than their partner.
“Domestic confidence extends into the kitchen as well, where 55 per cent think they are the better cook, led by 67 per cent of women and 45 per cent of men. Cleanup is a similar story as 54 per cent believe they outperform their partner, with women (77 per cent) far more likely than men (34 per cent) to say they are the true cleaning expert at home,” BC Hydro says.
The utility’s survey results also reveal some dishwashing drama, with six per cent of couples saying they have strong and clashing opinions about the right way to load a dishwasher.
19 per cent say they are dishwashing perfectionists, and men are more likely to claim that title.
“Meanwhile, nearly 20 per cent insist on running the dishwasher only when it is full, a rule women tend to enforce more often,” the survey said.
While it doesn’t pertain to household chores, the survey said that 58 per cent of men believe they’re the better driver in a relationship, compared to 28 per cent of women.