Some people have been quick to state that the focus on cleaning, tidying and domestic order, as well as the rise of cleaning influencers, may be reinforcing negative gender stereotypes around those of us who perform domestic chores.
We can’t shy away from the fact that, when it comes to household chores, there are some major inequalities. Obviously, when you live alone, the housework is yours and yours alone. But what if you live as a couple in a male and female household? According to data from YouGov, many couples still consider cleaning, cooking and child rearing as woman’s work.
The data breaks down like this…
Two in five women who work full-time and have a partner (38%) say these tasks mostly fall on them, compared with only 9% of men in the same situation.
Around a fifth of men in full-time jobs with a significant other say their partner is responsible for housework (20%). Half of this group(10%) say their partner doesn’t work, while the other half say they do (10%).
Only 6% of working women who are in a relationship say their partner manages the domestic work. This includes 4% who say their significant other doesn’t work.
Cleanfluencers
Cleanfluencers have hit the headlines for making huge amounts of money for every post and the top 15 most followed and most financially successful instagrammers are indeed all women. While the audience is mixed, we can look at the reported demographic data of Mrs Hinch’s 4.3 million followers and see that her audience is roughly 75% female and 25% male.
So, the big question is, why does the responsibility for domestic work still predominantly remain with women? Is this because the idea of domestic chores being ‘woman’s work’ is ingrained in our human psyche by cultural default? Is the legacy of our Mothers’ and Grandmothers’ selflessness impacting the way we all view our roles within shared homes?
Go Pro
The cleaning industry, as a whole, is booming. According to recent data from the BCC (British Cleaning Council):
· the cleaning industry contributes £55.5 billion to the UK economy every year and employs over 957,000 people
· within general cleaning roles, women make up 63% of the workforce(general cleaning includes office spaces and domestic households. Male cleaners, on the other hand, are far more prevalent in industrial environments)
· the cleaning, waste management, landscaping and facilities management sectors are set to generate 93,000 new jobs by 2024.
However, according to commercial cleaning supremos Cleanology, the industry is facing an image crisis as it is not considered to be ‘sexy’ enough to attract the talent needed to fill these roles - read how the cleaning industry needs to work on its sex appeal - and perhaps this preconceived stigma filters down into our homes and creates a reticence from some people to get stuck into the domestic chores.
Whatever the cause, there are clearly still some parts of our society that hold tightly to outdated gender stereotypes and we’d be delighted to hear your views on this - get in touch.
Clean & Tidy Community
The Clean & Tidy Home Show’s very own Shine Squad are a mixed bag of ambassadors for all-things clean and tidy, and are challenging ingrained stereotypes along the way.
@Mancleany (aka Simon) started his own cleaning business following a struggle with depression. Cleaning was something that really helped him through the darker days and he started his Instagram account because he felt he needed something to focus his mind on. His account explores cleaning, everything around the home and mental health awareness, and he enjoys bringing some fun and laughter into people’s days.
“I love to clean. It keeps me focused! Having a job where you can put the work in and see and feel the benefits straight away is something that keeps me going! There are people who sometimes think that a man can’t possible clean as well as women, but it doesn’t take long for them to change that view.”
Do It Yourself Mum (aka Kayleigh Higgs) is a rising star on Instagram, helping to ignite a passion for DIY amongst women. Kayleigh felt she hadn’t found her place in life until she began to practice more DIY. She now celebrates her passion and skill for upcycling and DIY and shares her process and work with her followers on Instagram, YouTube and via her online shop.
“I believe the rise of social media has broken down a lot of the gender stereotypes that used to control us, but there is still some way to go. Communities like the Clean & Tidy Home Show give us all an opportunity to challenge this thinking and work together to build a new, more inclusive way of being for everyone. The responsibilities lie with all of us to ensure we ask the questions, challenge the stereotype and be the change we want to see. . I am so excited to be a part of the Clean & Tidy community and work with such an amazing group of people... there is so much we can achieve. Keep watching this space!”
Some people have been quick to state that the focus on cleaning, tidying and domestic order, as well as the rise of cleaning influencers, may be reinforcing negative gender stereotypes around those of us who perform domestic chores.
We can’t shy away from the fact that, when it comes to household chores, there are some major inequalities. Obviously, when you live alone, the housework is yours and yours alone. But what if you live as a couple in a male and female household? According to data from YouGov, many couples still consider cleaning, cooking and child rearing as woman’s work.
The data breaks down like this…
Two in five women who work full-time and have a partner (38%) say these tasks mostly fall on them, compared with only 9% of men in the same situation.
Around a fifth of men in full-time jobs with a significant other say their partner is responsible for housework (20%). Half of this group(10%) say their partner doesn’t work, while the other half say they do (10%).
Only 6% of working women who are in a relationship say their partner manages the domestic work. This includes 4% who say their significant other doesn’t work.
Cleanfluencers
Cleanfluencers have hit the headlines for making huge amounts of money for every post and the top 15 most followed and most financially successful instagrammers are indeed all women. While the audience is mixed, we can look at the reported demographic data of Mrs Hinch’s 4.3 million followers and see that her audience is roughly 75% female and 25% male.
So, the big question is, why does the responsibility for domestic work still predominantly remain with women? Is this because the idea of domestic chores being ‘woman’s work’ is ingrained in our human psyche by cultural default? Is the legacy of our Mothers’ and Grandmothers’ selflessness impacting the way we all view our roles within shared homes?
Go Pro
The cleaning industry, as a whole, is booming. According to recent data from the BCC (British Cleaning Council):
· the cleaning industry contributes £55.5 billion to the UK economy every year and employs over 957,000 people
· within general cleaning roles, women make up 63% of the workforce(general cleaning includes office spaces and domestic households. Male cleaners, on the other hand, are far more prevalent in industrial environments)
· the cleaning, waste management, landscaping and facilities management sectors are set to generate 93,000 new jobs by 2024.
However, according to commercial cleaning supremos Cleanology, the industry is facing an image crisis as it is not considered to be ‘sexy’ enough to attract the talent needed to fill these roles - read how the cleaning industry needs to work on its sex appeal - and perhaps this preconceived stigma filters down into our homes and creates a reticence from some people to get stuck into the domestic chores.
Whatever the cause, there are clearly still some parts of our society that hold tightly to outdated gender stereotypes and we’d be delighted to hear your views on this - get in touch.
Clean & Tidy Community
The Clean & Tidy Home Show’s very own Shine Squad are a mixed bag of ambassadors for all-things clean and tidy, and are challenging ingrained stereotypes along the way.
@Mancleany (aka Simon) started his own cleaning business following a struggle with depression. Cleaning was something that really helped him through the darker days and he started his Instagram account because he felt he needed something to focus his mind on. His account explores cleaning, everything around the home and mental health awareness, and he enjoys bringing some fun and laughter into people’s days.
“I love to clean. It keeps me focused! Having a job where you can put the work in and see and feel the benefits straight away is something that keeps me going! There are people who sometimes think that a man can’t possible clean as well as women, but it doesn’t take long for them to change that view.”
Do It Yourself Mum (aka Kayleigh Higgs) is a rising star on Instagram, helping to ignite a passion for DIY amongst women. Kayleigh felt she hadn’t found her place in life until she began to practice more DIY. She now celebrates her passion and skill for upcycling and DIY and shares her process and work with her followers on Instagram, YouTube and via her online shop.
“I believe the rise of social media has broken down a lot of the gender stereotypes that used to control us, but there is still some way to go. Communities like the Clean & Tidy Home Show give us all an opportunity to challenge this thinking and work together to build a new, more inclusive way of being for everyone. The responsibilities lie with all of us to ensure we ask the questions, challenge the stereotype and be the change we want to see. . I am so excited to be a part of the Clean & Tidy community and work with such an amazing group of people... there is so much we can achieve. Keep watching this space!”
