Even though many people consider chores to be women`s duty and do no divide them equally, there are others who support equality in the division of chores and are ready to challenge gender roles.
Adelina Avdiu, mother of two, says that her husband helps her do chores.
“My husband helps me do the chores even though he works. It is easier for me when he is at home. Men also should do chores, not only women,” she says.
Her husband adds that he feels good when he helps her doing the chores since “women work a lot and are not valued as they should be.”
One of the principles of the article 3 of the Law for Family in Kosovo reads that the regulation of family relationships is based on equality between husband and wife, and reciprocal respect between them and other family members.
Bajram Halimi works in gender equality advancement. Chores, he says, should be done by all those who live in the house, no matter what their gender.
“Men not doing chores is not something to be proud of. I help my wife when I have time and I do not consider it her job only,” Halimi emphasizes.
According to him, the current mindset does not allow a lot of men do chores.
“The mindset here is that the chores are the women`s job and anyone who helps is not considered to be a man. As long as this does not change, there will be no equality for women,” he emphasizes.
Adelina Hasani, an organizer in the Informal Group of Women and Girls of Prizren “FEMaktiv,” says that it is necessary to achieve gender equality in private life in order to achieve it in politic life.
“We think that the contribution of citizens is necessary in achieving gender equality in society. That is why we as an initiative try to cooperate with the citizens in this direction. And not only women but men also should fight and contribute in this direction, since gender equality is a war for justice,” she says.
In a performance of this informal group “Burrat Hekurosin” (Men Iron), men themselves were volunteers of the initiative and ironed several clothes in front of the public.
According to this NGO, chores are obligations that should be divided equally among men and women.
Hasani, who is an organizer at this NGO, think that all should work on gender equality and says that again in the future they will organize such performances that will challenge the traditional gender roles.
“There were men who came and participated in this performance. They also expressed their will to participate in other activities toward challenging gender roles. We believe that the public performance ‘Burrat Hekurosin,’ which was a symbolic performance, has impacted revising gender roles and in thinking about how these roles have been imposed on us,” she emphasizes.
KosovaLive has done a short survey with 20 men: half of them were between the ages of 24-35 whereas the other half was over 45.
In the first group of the surveyed men(24-35 years-old), seven out of ten declared they help doing the chores, whereas in the other group (older than 45 years), only four men declared they help doing the chores.
When asked if gender equality exists in the division of chores, they answered that it belongs only to women and men should do other jobs and provide for the family.
One of the surveyed says that the chores have always been only for women and this should not change.
“We inherited these traditions from our antecedents. The woman should do the chores and the man should work and provide for the family. The new generations are trying to change this, but it will be very difficult,” he emphasizes.
Adelina Hasani, from “FEMaktiv,” also agrees that seeking gender equality in doing chores has raised many complaints.
“In our public performance ‘Burrat Hekurosin’ we have had severe reactions or been criticized by men. These reactions in a way made us understand not all men are ready for this change,” she says.
In the article 4 of the Law of Family in Kosovo it is stated that that “all persons have the right to be equally treated and have equal obligations stated in this law. There will be no direct or indirect discrimination toward no one based on gender, age, civil status, language, physical or mental inability, sexual orientation, political belongingness, ethnical origin, nationality, religion or belief, race, societal origin, wealth, birth or other conditions.”
Arbresha Berisha
