that country is spain. at the moment,40 per cent of spanish men say that they don't do any housework. their wives,however ,spend six hours a day on it. in 2005 the spanish parliament passed a new law. now husbands have to share jobs in the home.
in a cafe in madrid we asked people about the law. conchita rodriguez:'most women go out to work. so,in my opinion, they shouldn't do all the housework too,but they usually do. that isn't fair.'
juan salgado:'yes,it's a good idea,but i think a lot of men already help in the house. i cook and i take the children to school, so it won't change anything for me and my wife.'
laura pino:'i go out to work , but i prefer to do the housework. i don't want my husband in the kitchen. he repairs. i cook and clean. it's simple.'
pablo calvache is getting married soon:'it's ok for women.' he says.'they learn how to cook and iron when they're young, but we don't. i don't know how to do those things.'
margarita uria is a member of the spanish parliament. she produced the new law. she agrees. 'men don't help in the house,' she says. 'but it is't all their fault. we women should teach them when they're children.'
will it work? laura pino doesn't think so:'if the man doesn't help, what will his wife do-take him to the police station?'
but conchita rodriguez is more positive. 'it will probably happen slowly, but as more women go out to work, things must change.'