Economists on the Happiness Gap

[differenceblog]

MSNBC reports that men are happier than women (video). MSNBC makes the uncited claim that women enjoy time with friends and family less than their male counterparts. The New York Times gives more detail, claiming that this is a shift from 20 years ago, when women reported more happiness than men

Comments

[astrogeek01]

It's a very valid point. Not all people choose to have children. (*gasp*) They should also compare childless M/W in committed relationships too.

[differenceblog]

I suspect there would be some of the "childcare" effect in heterosexual couples. I think women end up Taking Care of My Man enough that it would change the results versus single women.

[astrogeek01]

Right, which is why they should do 'em separate from both!

[mbigmistake]

I saw the report last night and this morning on the tv news. I thought the same thing...basically that the study didn't relate to me or anyone that I knew because of the way that it talked about women in the traditional child care roll.

They interviewed a woman who said that she didn't enjoy visiting her parents as much as her husband because he got to sit around and smoke cigars with the boys while the women were all in the kitchen. What IS this...1951?

Indeed, a more interesting study would be single, childless, gainfully employed men and women compared.

[mbigmistake]

More thoughts here: http://mbigmistake.blogspot.com/2007/09/unhappy-women.html

[hrafn]

real complaint is with the use of the words "men and women" to mean "father and mothers."

Oh my god, yes.

[laurenhat]

Language Log has an analysis of how this was misreported, and basically says no real meaningful gap exists.

I definitely agree with you point about comparing parents vs. singles, etc., in general.