27 December 2023 , 11:48
1130
0
A woman has stirred up heated debate after revealing the controversial Christmas gift alternative she got from her husband.
Most people love to give and recieve gifts, but heaps of unwanted presents end up up jammed into the back of the wardrobe at this time of year because we've not got the guts to express what we want, or hate.
One woman decided to go against the grain this year with her festive wishes, and it's caused uproar online. Admitting she isn't a 'traditional present person', Cassie told her husband that she "doesn't need anything" this year. Instead, the busy mum simply asked for some help around the house to keep the place clean and tidy. But not everyone has taken too kindly to the idea.
Explaining on her TikTok account @classycassie30, she said: "A few years ago I told my husband to stop getting me actual gifts because I really don't need anything. I don't need anything else to take care of.
She added: "I'm just not a gift person and what I really need is help around here. So now for every anniversary, holiday and birthday he calls and sets up for a professional cleaning company to come and do a deep cleaning. It is the absolute best gift a mum could receive."
Kate Spade has 50% off handbags but here's how to get 60% off
Despite not being a "gift person," Cassie said she does still get a bunch of white roses as a gift because it's something physical she can appreciate. The video, which has more than half a million views and over 27,000 likes, has caused a stir and left opinions divided in the comments. One person said: "I want this so bad but my husband was raised in a 'do it yourself' house and he's just like 'what if I clean instead?' Sir, it is not the same."
Another added: "Yes! For my birthday I told my husband I just wanted the house deep cleaned. He said find someone and I'll send you the cash. It was awesome!"
But not everyone was a fan of the idea, with some questioning why the all cleaning responsibilites fall on Cassie. Others argued that gifting a woman cleaning for Christmas is problematic, and only works to entrench gender stereotypes.
One person commented: "Damn the bar is so low!! This reminds me of 70s women getting a hoover for Christmas! so sad." Another said: "[The] bar is so low to think cleaning the house is a present for you, it's his house too."
Someone else added: "Why is that a present for you and not just a service for the whole family? Why is this only your responsibility?"
A survey released in September 2023, capturing British Social Attitudes, found that 63 per cent of women said they did more than their fair share of the housework. Only 22 per cent of men said they shouldered most of the burden, with 32 per cent admitting they do less than they should.
Social Scientists have labelled this "the second shift," describing a woman's first shift to be the one she does at work and the second she comes back home to, including domestic activities and childcare.
Another research study found that the traditional "homemaking" task of cleaning, is five times more likely to fall on women's shoulders than men's. It also found that women are also six times more likely to do the laundry and twice as likely to look after shared pets.