Dirty secret

"Man may work from sun to sun," goes the proverb. "But woman's work is never done." When you have cleaned the last dish, put away the laundry and swept the floor - it begins again. Dirt, grease and grime gather everywhere: an endless unwinnable war on mess. And one still fought mostly by women.

The Spanish government have pledged to end this gender imbalance. A new app will log people's household chores. Angela Rodriguez at the equality ministry says it will shed light on the "invisible tasks" done by women and ensure men "start doing their bit".

In the 1960s, women did at least 85% of housework. The gap has narrowed, with men in the UK now doing an extra 24 minutes a day.¹ But as more women work full-time, cooking and cleaning have become a "second shift" of unpaid labour.

Gender norms are "strong and sticky," says sociologistSomeone who studies human social behaviour. Modern sociology was developed by European thinkers in the 19th century, but it is also based on the writings of African American thinkers like W. E. B. DuBois. Joanna Pepin.² People are more open-minded than half a century ago. But some men remain reluctant to do jobs traditionally considered "women's work".

One in three now use self-tracking apps and devices to log steps, sleep, diet and mood.³ Fans say they make us healthier and happier. But can they also solve gender inequality?

From the washing machine to the robot hoover, technology has revolutionised housework. Experts predict 39% of chores will be fully automated in the next decade.⁴ But labour-saving devices do not always save labour. Sociologist Leah Ruppanner says they raise "standards of cleanliness" and mount pressure on women.

We need a "cultural shift", she argues. And that involves an honest discussion about expectations and division of labour. Gender expert Kate Mangino recommends couples "audit" who does what. And an app may be a good way to do this.

However, researchers at the University of Cambridge found men "see mess differently".⁵ Couples disagree on the value of tasks and whether they are necessary. So they may need someone else to judge. In 2017, a Spanish court forced a man to pay his ex-wife €23,000 (£20,000) for her housework.

Putting a price on elbow greaseHard physical work, especially vigorous polishing or cleaning. could be the answer. In Sweden, the state gives families money to hire cleaners. This lets women enter the workplace, but critics say it is not radical enough. The International Wages for Housework Campaign calls for a "care income" to compensate for all forms of unpaid work.

What would happen if women stopped doing housework? Iceland found out on 24 October 1975, when 90% of women went on strike. Fathers were forced to take children to work. Shops sold out of cheap sausages as men frantically fed their families. One of the strike's results was the world's first elected female head of state.⁶

Academics say this is not just about cleaning and childcare. Studies show women do more "cognitive" and "emotional" labour than men: essential planning, organising and negotiating. It is unclear how an app will measure this.

But expert Kate Mangino says men should welcome housework equality. Equal partners are still "exhausted" but stronger and happier working as a "team".

Yes: Knowledge is power. Men may think they do their fair share, but the data will reveal the truth. This app will divide jobs fairly and end rows over whose turn it is to empty the bins.

No: What a chore! The last thing people need is another app tracking everything they do. And it will not work because people will never agree on what counts as work or how to measure it.

Or... Like all technology, this app is a tool. On its own, it will not solve the problem of gender equality. But it can help start a discussion about this issue and begin to change gender norms.