Mums the ones who dust ’n fuss

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Women are the glue that hold Malaysian families together. A 2004 survey on Malaysian families showed they spent more time with their children and made most of the daily household decisions.
In comparison, most fathers spent significantly less time and paid less attention to children’s needs.
The survey by the National Population and Family Development Board revealed three out of five mothers discuss school and homework with their children, compared with one in two fathers.
One in three mothers talk over personal problems with their children, against one in five fathers.
"Spouses seem to know their gender roles and live according to them," said Universiti Malaya’s associate professor in Economics and Administration Faculty Tey Nai Peng.

Tey said more men are beginning to change, taking on more household responsibilities and sharing major purchasing decisions with the wife. "However, women are still the ones who clean and cook after a hard day’s work."
National Population and Family Development Board director Dr Anjli Doshi-Gandhi said the survey also showed that the burden on women is heavier when they are divorced.
"‘Disneyland dads’ — divorced fathers who are only there for the good times — are an emerging breed. They are leaving the nurturing work of children to mothers.
"They take their children on outings and give them treats and think that they have discharged their responsibilities as a good father," she said.
The findings were discussed yesterday at the Family Scholars Colloquium.
The findings showed that the "sandwich generation" — those taking care of their elderly parents as well as their children — is still part of the Malaysian culture.
The majority of the children surveyed, aged 13 to 24, said they had a good relationship with their parents.
Most viewed their parents as caring, understanding, considerate and strict. A sizeable proportion reported that their parents, especially fathers, were "fierce".