The irony of this view (that housework is a bad thing) is that it is almost totally a function of current views about gender. Before the widespread automation

The irony of this view (that housework is a bad thing) is that it is almost totally a function of current views about gender. Before the widespread automation of many household tasks (in the rich world) starting in the 1950/60s, housework was more gruelling than most paid jobs. And if you go back further, to the proto-industry of the 18th century, then housework was just work (i.e. merchants putting out work to women and children). I think this has led to a misunderstanding of why gender inequality exists today and existed in the past. Which is unfortunate because it mainly leads to poor recommendations (particularly when people who live in one context start telling people in another context they should be more like them).