Spanish men learn domestic ways

"It's not that I'm a macho man. It's just that I've never been taught these things before." Santi, 36, Madrid

A new law is being passed in Spain that obliges men to share household chores and the care of children and elderly family members. This is set to challenge the tradition of Spanish male behaviour, half of which do not do any housework at all. Spanish men who refuse to lift a finger around the house will face new legal sanctions. Previously undomesticated men are already having problems coming to terms with the legislation, puffing and panting can be heard throughout a nation renowned for having a misogynistic culture.

Whereas you might expect Spanish men to revolt the idea, some think it high time they play catch up. But many wives remain sceptical about the new law. Domestic activities are still passed down from mother to daughter in Spain, so when a woman meets a man they invariably do the housework. And even if she has a full time job, she still does three times more housework than him. So it seems it is a question of education, to change men’s attitude and behaviours future sons must be taught to start taking more responsibility in the home. So, whereas older Spanish machos are set in their ways, younger Spanish men may change eventually as society evolves.