Since the recession seems to be hitting men harder than women, will all these unemployed guys pull their weight at home? Will they not only watch the kids, but will they learn how to put the dishes away, while watching the kids? Will the recession unintentionally lead to greater gender equity? Rebecca Traister and Emily Bazelon discuss this topic on BloggingHeads.
My guess is that all those unemployed guys are going to spend most of their time looking for new jobs. They will be available for the childcare issues. They will be available for parent-teacher conferences and lifts to playdates. But I'm not sure if I can imagine a new era of peaceful, redistribution of crappy household chores. Also, unemployment is terribly stressful and a huge destroyer of families.
Apt. 11d 
I’m vaguely remembering something from “The Second Shift” about non-working men (or men who earn less than their wives?) doing less household work. It may be different now.
LikeLike
Perhaps they will play video games.
(Runs from the room to avoid shoe throwing from this obviously rash generalization.)
LikeLike
Julie G.,
I bet you’re right.
LikeLike
In our house, I’m going to be unemployed soon. My husband thinks that my unemployment is going to mean more video games for him, since I’ll pick up his household chores. Dream on, game boy.
LikeLike
It certainly makes Linda Hirshman look a fool, again: http://drezner.foreignpolicy.com/category/wordpress_tag/gender
LikeLike
Dave S., I was thinking the same thing. Not that Hirshman needs much assistance.
LikeLike