For years, I’ve heard my female clients say they feel as if they are the “Project Manager” for the home, while their husband/male partner is their employee; the person standing by, often willing to help, but waiting for direction and rarely taking the initiative to become aware of all the moving parts involved in running a household. They speak of the exhaustion that comes, not just from caring the physical load, but from bearing the mental load.
“All the Rage” investigates the cause of this pervasive inequity to answer why, in households where both parents work full-time and agree that tasks should be equally shared, mothers’ household management, mental labor, and childcare contributions still outweigh fathers’.
Resolving this issue can decrease resentment and increase respect and passion. (Let’s face it, who wants to have sex with their employee, or with the person who feels like “just another kid.”) Lockman offers excellent insights and potential solutions.