LONDON –– Behind every great Christmas — may be a very hard-working woman. A new survey of British adults reveals that women disproportionately shoulder the bulk of holiday tasks. The research underscores a significant disparity in how festive duties are divided, challenging traditional gender roles and highlighting the need for more equitable participation.
The findings of the study, commissioned by OnePoll, are telling: a staggering 80% of women report bearing the majority of the “mental burden” associated with Christmas preparations, encompassing planning, shopping, cooking, wrapping gifts, and even cleaning. This contrast becomes more pronounced with 68% of women taking on gift wrapping, compared to just 32% of men, and 58% managing the greeting cards.
Women are 20% more likely than men to set the dinner table for the Christmas meal. They are also twice as likely to ensure that family pets have gifts to “unwrap.”
In all, a quarter of women surveyed feel entirely burdened, saying they shoulder “all” the responsibility for holiday festivities — with their partners contributing nothing. In a striking contrast, the few tasks falling more frequently to men include ensuring the car is fueled and hanging outdoor Christmas lights.
The survey also sheds light on the relational strain caused by these imbalances, with 17% of adults having argued with their partners over pre-Christmas preparations. Moreover, 62% believe that women end up managing most of the mental load for a smooth holiday season.
“Christmas is a collective experience, and sharing the mental load ensures everyone feels valued and appreciated,” a OnePoll spokesperson says in a statement. “It’s not about gender roles, it’s about recognizing the unique strengths each person brings to the table and collaborating to make the holiday season magical for all. These figures do seem to show there is still a fairly old-fashioned approach to Christmas across much of the UK.”
While 57% of respondents acknowledge that women are often “better” at organizing Christmas décor and celebrations, 56% of women admit that managing these tasks dampens their holiday spirit. On the other hand, 24% of men admitted to generally relaxing during the festive preparations.
OnePoll’s spokesperson emphasized the essence of Christmas: shared moments and efforts. “When both men and women contribute to the preparations, it not only eases the workload but also strengthens the bonds within the family, making the holiday season truly special,” they add.
They advocate for both men and women to contribute equally to preparations, thereby not only reducing the workload but also strengthening family bonds, making the holiday season truly special.
Top 20 Christmas Tasks More Often Handled by Women
1. Wrapping presents
2. Buying food
3. Purchasing gifts
4. House cleaning
5. Writing cards
6. Cooking
7. Deciding on gift choices
8. Erecting the Christmas tree
9. Decorating the house
10. Budgeting
11. Tidying between events
12. Preparing the Christmas dinner table
13. Planning hosting menus
14. Ensuring adequate alcohol supply
15. Buying pet presents
16. Contacting relatives
17. Arranging Christmas outfits
18. Organizing the family calendar
19. Buying food for special diets
20. Managing seating arrangements
Another male bashing article. Women are the ones who want to decorate, send cards, have dinners, etc. Most men would be fine wishing people a Merry Christmas and exchanging a gift.
We don’t give a flip about decorating, Christmas themed pillows, wrapping (put it a bag), etc.
After reading these articles, I tend to wonder if we males can do anything correctly in the eyes of liberals and feminists.