According to a new study about Canadian society published by The University of Western Ontario “, couples who share the responsibility for paid and unpaid work report higher average measures of happiness and life satisfaction than those in other family models”! The “complementary-traditional family’ model,” according to the new findings, in which men do “more paid work and women doing more unpaid work,” is declining. 

In fact, the Canadian researchers argue that what is positive about “shared role models” is that they encourage gender equality, and most importantly “leaves women less vulnerable in the case of separation, divorce or death of a spouse.” The researchers suggest the Canadian government should endorse “policies that support equal opportunities for men and women to access education and work, provide conditions that facilitate work-life balance and promote greater involvement of men in housework and childcare.” (source; http://www.eurekalert.org-Dec 15 2009).

The traditional family role of the husband as the sole breadwinner is declining in our Kuwaiti society due to the increase in the percentage of working women. Many of these Kuwaiti women have attained more access to education and work, yet one also notices a decline in the involvement of both parents in housework and childcare. Eventually, the lack of a balance between work, upbringing children and other family responsibility causes numerous social problems: increase in youth violence, gradual disappearance of positive role models and above all increase in early divorce.

  For example, due to financial affluence, almost total reliance of many Kuwaiti families on maids and house helpers, we seem to be directly augmenting the levels of our dependence on others, inadequate childcare, while many of us continued to be occupied with their jobs, unnecessary social obligations. Therefore, we call upon civil societies in Kuwait as well as local social research centers to study the phenomenon of the decline of the “shared roles models” in our society. Successful families in Kuwait are those who achieve equilibrium between job’s requirements and other external responsibility while providing adequate behavioral and social care for children and other familial obligations and duties.
  Perhaps one of the challenging issues we currently face is to provide children with a safe family environment in which they will attain necessary social skills as well as being able to adapt to a changing world. Such children if neglected will either slip into adopting youth violence due to peer pressure, or become in the future unreliable parents. The current and common family models which lack the capabilities to cope with a changing world need to be changed.

  The traditional Kuwaiti family needs to change its basic assumptions about the role of men and women in our society. To illustrate further, what currently governs a large part of our traditional understanding of the family continues to be somewhat outmoded. It is better for both contemporary couples to contribute more fully in raising their children. Yet, it is still challenging to perceive how some working men and women can achieve “shared roles” while most of their time is spent among friends or at work. Nevertheless, shared roles do not have to always mean “washing dishes” to prove one’s commitment to the family! Designating certain times during the week (family time); when both husband and wife share the most basic house chores; involving children, is steps in the right direction.

The Canadian study about “shared roles’ might have adopted different research methods due to the difference between that Western society and our middle eastern Kuwaiti society. Yet, we can glean from other social experiences whatever is useful to us. As such, promoting shared roles in our society requires more commitment to family. It is in fact quite thrilling and exhilarating to spend real time with loved ones; sharing with children their most cherished life moments!

khaledaljenfawi@yahoo.com