Husbands and Housework: A Recipe for Less Sex

There may be another reason why men don't want to do housework. A new study shows that husbands who help out with household chores have less sex than those who don't.

The research, published in the journal American Sociological Review, surveyed 4,500 heterosexual married couples in the U.S. from 1992 to 1994. The average age for the men was 46, while the average age for women was around 44.

After surveying the couples, the researchers found that they spent about 34 hours on traditional female chores, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping and sewing. They then found that the couples spent an additional 17 hours doing traditional male chores, such as household repairs and working outdoors.

On average, the couples reported having sex five times per month before the survey was taken. Yet in households where women did most of the female chores, the couples had sex 1.6 times more times per month. In fact, the researchers found that men who did 40 percent of the female housework had one less sexual event on average per month.

These findings contradict previous studies which implied that married men generally have more sex in exchange for housework. However, these previous studies failed to take into account exactly what chores the husbands did. The results show that sex is, in fact, not a bargaining chip in marriage.

Yet the lead author, Sabino Kornrich, was quick to point out that men should not assume that they should not become involved in traditionally female household tasks. After all, men who refuse to help around the house could make their wives unhappy and increase marriage conflict. In other words, pick up a broom and start sweeping, guys.