Head of my household?
Last night an interviewer came round to talk to cardinalsin and myself about our expenditure and food buying habits. We have been selected at random to take part in an Office of National Statistics survey and I think we both felt that taking part is our civil duty and happily agreed.
However a question came up which I sort of dread and this is the second time I have been asked it in this sort of survey.
"Which of you and your partner earns the most?"
The person which earns the most is then deemed to be the "head of the household". Now as the man explained (despite it being obvious) this question is about stamping out sexism. Previously the man was always the head of the household. So by phrasing it in terms of the highest salary this means that it is non-gender specfic and could be either party.
My big problem is this - our household has NO head. I find that an antiquated notion. I completely disagree with the idea that a partnership of people living together automatically has a hierarchy. And that furthermore the person who financially contributes most to the partnership is automatically at the top of that hierarachy. I really dislike the idea that even our relationships are supposed to be a reflection of the materialistic, capitalist world and that the government considers me to be the head of our household because I earn more. Not to mention that given that men and women are still paid disproportionately this means that in general men are normally going to be the head of the household no matter the rephrasing of the question.
At the interview I said that I earned more money but that I did't agree with the concept of "head of the household" and that our household was a completely equal partnership. Unfortunately this didn't fit his form so he pretty much ignored me. Therefore to set the balance right in the world my flist is being inflicted with this viewpoint.
However a question came up which I sort of dread and this is the second time I have been asked it in this sort of survey.
"Which of you and your partner earns the most?"
The person which earns the most is then deemed to be the "head of the household". Now as the man explained (despite it being obvious) this question is about stamping out sexism. Previously the man was always the head of the household. So by phrasing it in terms of the highest salary this means that it is non-gender specfic and could be either party.
My big problem is this - our household has NO head. I find that an antiquated notion. I completely disagree with the idea that a partnership of people living together automatically has a hierarchy. And that furthermore the person who financially contributes most to the partnership is automatically at the top of that hierarachy. I really dislike the idea that even our relationships are supposed to be a reflection of the materialistic, capitalist world and that the government considers me to be the head of our household because I earn more. Not to mention that given that men and women are still paid disproportionately this means that in general men are normally going to be the head of the household no matter the rephrasing of the question.
At the interview I said that I earned more money but that I did't agree with the concept of "head of the household" and that our household was a completely equal partnership. Unfortunately this didn't fit his form so he pretty much ignored me. Therefore to set the balance right in the world my flist is being inflicted with this viewpoint.