Moral Dilemma

[ravenhair]

I work very hard, often quite long hours, do a bit of freelance work on the side, go to the gym three times a week and like to read books, spend time with my partner and so on in the little remaining free time I have. I am also inherently messy, incredibly untidy and have an innate loathing of housework, although I do love my house to look nice. I desperately want to engage the services of a cleaning lady, yet my socialist principles are telling me that this would be wrong, very wrong . . . I am young, healthy, have no kids and should be doing my own domestic chores. It's true that the thought of someone standing at my kitchen sink doing *my* dirty dishes fills me with shame. The fact remains, however, that my house is pretty much always a pigsty and I 'm sick of it. Please advise . . .

[WaldoMcFroog]

How is employing a cleaner against socialist principals? No one ever said that a socialist society would see everyone doing their own cleaning! The key point is whether or not you exploit the person who comes to do the cleaning. If you treat them as a lackey, fit to do the jobs you aren't prepared to do yourself, then yes, you should feel ashamed of yourself, but if you're paying that person a decent rate for their work, and value them for doing it, there is no real problem - I bet you don't get guilty over dustmen picking up your rubbish, do you? And I bet you say thanks to them if ever you happen to go out whilst they're doing their work.

[andy hughes]

I'm with Waldo in this one - employing someone to do household chores offers no conflict with Soclialist principles - I am one, and I have a cleaner as well. As far as I'm concerned, I am buying free time to do what i want, and giving someone else the chance to earn some money to do the same. I do understand your discomfort, but think about it - do you feel bad when someone in a restaurant kitchen washes your dishes, after someone else has cooked you a meal? Course not - the principle is the same, it just takes a bit of mnetal adjustment to see it. You should be enjoying the fruits of your hard work, not beating yourself up for enjoying your free time - we are a different generation from our parents, we live different lifestyles. No-one is going to give you a gold medal for doing your own cleaning - just get someone reliable, and keep that little domestic detail to yourself.

[Melissa_dwl]

get married with a girl/woman who loves to be a housewife.:P

[coemgen]

what makes you think that ravenhair is a man? ( apart from the fact that you may already know)

[ravenhair]

Thank you all . . . I am indeed a woman, and my partner also works long hours (and we don't live together most of the time) so no chance of persuading him to be a househusband. You have put my mind at rest, so I will find a cleaner, pay her more than the going rate and we'll both be happy.

[dancunian]

Question is why you have to do the long hours? Can someone else not do some hours for you? (Spreading the jobs and therefore the wealth is also a socialist principle). This would give you time to do your own dishes. Personally I think if you treat your cleaner with respect you are giving someone a job and you could still be respected as a socialist.

[ravenhair]

To be frank, I'd rather work the long hours than do the dishes . . . I find my job much more fun than household chores. Thanks for your answer; you have all but eradicated any last ounce of guilt . . .