In the past, an absolute authority was held by the father and his decisions were imposed
and obeyed strictly without discussion. Later, many economical changes took place and
affected all of the family members dramatically creating a whole new concept of authority
in the family, a one that is based upon sound leadership, mutual understanding and
consultation among family members.
Women carried responsibility of doing all domestic jobs and served family members,
however, when she went to work outside her house, these loads began disturbing and
exhausting her. Therefore, man started to participate in assisting his wife. In addition,
industrial advances contributed in making these jobs easier than before.
This has led the researcher to ask if the Iraqi husband did participate in helping his wife
and to what extent women depend upon different household electric devices on a daily
basis.
The study sample was made of 150 ladies who were employees in different Iraqi
governmental facilities, high school teachers and faculty members. They were selected
only if they were married and have children of 12 years of age or younger.
The present study aims at identifying:
1. Extent to which Iraqi men assist their wives in household loads.
2. Extent to which Iraqi women benefit from domestic devices to minimize burdens of
doing household jobs manually.
3. Extent to which Iraqi women depend upon previously prepared foods purchased from
the market.
4. Extent to which Iraqi women admit being exhausted from domestic jobs.
The most important result of the study show:
1. About two thirds of study sample admit that their husbands help them in household
jobs. The majority of those husbands help their wives only occasionally and a small
percentage always assist their wives.
2. All the women in the present study bought previously prepared foods either on a daily
basis or only on occasions.
3. In the present study, all the participants depended upon different household electrics to
lower domestic loads.
4. The majority of the study group feel exhausted from household jobs, however, only
occasionally. Only a small percentage doesn't feel consumed especially when their
husbands share their loads.
The researcher had made a number of recommendations including:
Educational programs should include the subject of family support between a man and
his wife in household jobs (especially in boys' schools).
Further studies could be conducted to know women's suggestions in minimizing household
burdens.