Every day, they slowly accumulate. Plates covered in sauces and bread pieces. Bowls with a fine laye...

Every day, they slowly accumulate. Plates covered in sauces and bread pieces. Bowls with a fine layer of
who-knows-what. Forks, knives, and spoons all stuck with bits of this and that. At the end of a long day of work,
cooking, cleaning, and, for many, negotiating with small children, a couple has to 46 the big question: Who is
going to do the 47 ?
A recent report on family dynamics suggests that the answer to that question can have a significant impact 48
the health and long lasting of a relationship. The study examined a variety of different household tasks, 49_ shopping,
laundry and housecleaning, and found that, for women in families, ifs more important to 50 the responsibility of
doing the dishes than any other task. Women who wash the vast majority of the dishes themselves report 51
relationship conflict and less relationship satisfaction than women with husbands 52 help. Women are happier
about sharing dishwashing 53 than they are about sharing any other household task.
What is it about dishes? Dan Carlson, assistant professor of family and consumer studies at the University of
Utah, and the lead author of the study, offers his own observations: “Doing dishes is gross. 54 , unlike some other
household tasks such as cooking or gardening, doing dishes well does not 55 praises.”