(Above: Business analyst Rohaizad Sulaiman, 33, and his wife, teacher Siscaliana with their kids, Ryduan ,9 and Sophie, 1 year old)

Who does the housework?

Housework is still considered the responsibility of the woman, according to a recent study by sociologist Paulin Tay Straughan on marriage dissolution here.

The survey divided men and women's participation in 19 domestic chores into three categories - childcare, homecare and supervision and eldercare.

Women reported that they carried out an average of 8.8 of these 19 tasks, compared to an average of 2.7 for men. Men took the lead in only three tasks: household repairs, washing the car and paying the bills.

Unequal division of labour = higher risk of divorce

The study found that marriages where there was an unequal distribution of housework faced a higher risk of divorce.

On average, divorced respondents were responsible for 7.3 (out of 19) tasks while married respondents were responsible for 5.1 tasks.

A study of 3,500 British couples published last month by the London School of Economics also reported that the more men helped out, the lower the incidence of divorce.

Men who do housework = more attractive

An Oxford study of 12 developed countries last year showed that both men and women are more likely to cohabit with a partner who helps out with housework and childcare duties.

Some marital researchers believe that men who chip in also enjoy better sex lives, ostensibly because women feel less stressed when their loads at home are lightened.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.