Mister Myths - Deakin University

things at all. Or so we’re told. But are we right in thinking that men are just too busy
to go shopping? Are men busier than women, and is that why they apparently leave
their purchasing until the last minute, or avoid the journey to the shopping mall all
together?
In the US it is reported that work pressures are increasing, with the average worker
spending 4.5 hours each week doing additional work from home on top of their 9.5
hour average workday [20]. In Ireland however, research has revealed that although
men spend one on average one hour longer in paid employment or study than
women, women do twice as much housework and have 1.5 hour less leisure time at
the weekend. [21]. Irish men enjoy 6 hours free time per day, while Irish women have
only 5 hours 17 minutes.
In China, the average working week has reportedly decreased in line with a global
trend noted by the International Labour organisation. In Hong Kong, the working
week and the amount of unpaid overtime worked has decreased in recent years as a
result of increased economic prosperity [22].
In Australia, men and women spend the same amount of time on paid and unpaid
work, although women do more unpaid work than men [23]. The average working
week (paid and unpaid work) increased by 2 hours between 1997 and 2008, but this
hasn’t stopped Australians - male and female - from finding nearly seven hours a
month to spend on social network sites, a trend reflected globally [24]. Women
however reportedly spend more time on social network sites than men.
In the UK, men and women spend about the same amount of time in paid and
unpaid work, but men spend more time in leisure activities (i.e. watching TV and
participating in hobbies and sports [25].
In relation to this Mister-Myth, it can be argued that men are not necessity busier
than women, and in fact in some countries may actually be less busy. With the
average shopping mall trip estimated to take 1.5 hours it appears that both men and
women, although busy and often multi-tasking can find the time to shop, and for
men, it might even be easier, if suitably motivated.
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