Marriage today is different from what I saw growing up. There was no question when it came to responsibilities because everyone culturally had a role, and all tasks were already gender assigned. Boys sweep the yard and girls sweep inside the house. Men hunt for food, and women cook it. Clearing and tilling the farm was for the man, while the woman took care of the weeding. The man knew he was the breadwinner, and it was his responsibility to pay the rent, all bills, and school fees.

I grew up with those traditional values, but I now live in a reality where things have changed. A generation that questions the values and wisdom of long ago. I am still a little old-school.

Should husbands and wives share bills, house chores, and responsibilities 50/50?.

I am of the opinion that responsibilities should be shared fairly and not equally. The old African culture recognised the fact that women do not have the physical strength of a man, so they are assigned tasks that require less strength. A man will split the firewood for his wife to cook with, but he is not expected to do the dishes. I believe a man should pay the full rent and the full fees. Whatever little may come from his wife as a contribution should be appreciated and valued.
The wife is expected to do the domestic work at home. I believe the domestic work at home is already a lot of work to handle.

Equality or fairness in marriage.

In my opinion, the tasks and responsibilities in marriage are not to be shared equally because equality is not fair.

Equality demands that everything be split into two equal parts. The man pays half of the rent and the woman pays the other half. If food for the month is 6000 Steem, the man will contribute 3000, and the wife will add the remaining 3000, an idea I don't agree with.

Fairness, on the other hand, means that responsibility is assigned based on ability. As head of the family, the man takes care of the heavy lifting, pays 75% or all the bills if he can do so. It is the man's responsibility to protect his family from harm because he is the one with the strength.

If one partner earns more money or has a busier job, should the other take on more house chores?

Traditionally, the man is not expected to be selfish; he lovingly provides all the needs of his family and his wife, who he keeps at home, to do all the domestic work for him and his children. It was all about the sacrifices you make for others.
I wish my wife worked from home. Her primary task is to care for the home, but if she can make more money from home while still looking after the domestic work at home, then she deserves extra respect. On a normal day, I should care for my family's needs. No woman should work domestically at home and work out there again.

What are practical ways couples can balance responsibilities without feeling stressed or unfairly treated?

I will do my duties, provide for the family and protect my wife and kids. All manually-labourous work that needs masculinity is my job, but once in a while, I will do the domestic work as an expression of love. I expect my wife to handle the domestic work at home, cook and care for the kids. Keep the house clean. The work at home is already very demanding. If the roof is leaking, that is my job. Once in a while, I may cook. If you are not well, I can step in and cook, help as much as I can.

_{^{Image from Pixabay.com. Fairness and not equality}}

Conclusion and Invitation

Dear wife, if I care and provide for you and your needs, according to you all the respect and dignity as you perform your domestic work at home. I will really appreciate it if you don't envy this slavish position of mine simply because it is labelled head of the family. Appreciate your place as a cherished wife and a compliment to me, not a competitor. Lets do what we are naturally good at, the task that nature have assigned us.

I am inviting @nspidos, @eliany and @josepha to participate in this contest.

Media Credit

Composer	@manuelhooks
Graphics from	Pixabay.com
Entry type	Community Contest
Organizer	@ninapenda
Contest link	Click here
Community	Steem4Nigeria
Date	Tuesday.. 30th September
	(@) 2025