Man up

Amy and I stayed inside the dorm facilities the entire day. Our blah day inspired me to talk about Norwegians rather than us.

I would like to discuss one aspect of Norwegian society; Americans take note. Gender equality is so engrained into society that it's old news to talk about it. Women are the powerhouses now and they commonly hold high positions in government and business. Without the time to cook and clean, men have had to 'man up' by becoming happy little homemakers. It's the norm for men to cook dinner, wash dishes or laundry and make trips to the grocery store. When it comes to children, Norway is the only country in the world that mandates paternity leave, and, believe it or not, it's longer than the maternity leave. The men do the household duties surprisingly well, and here's the kicker, without complaints. If you ask them about the lack of gender roles or reversal of gender roles, the men defend the women saying, "Well, they work really hard in their career and someone has to do the housework. I do what I can."

In sum, I believe Norwegian boot camp for American men is the answer to our prayers.