Of all the housewifey chores that I do, the one that I do enjoy is food shopping. I like sniffing the melons and choosing the salad dressing with the snootiest label. Even the kids understand the fun of food shopping and run through the aisles “helping” me by locating their favorite cookies and waffles and dropping them in the cart. The cherry on the sundae is the tabloid reading at the checkout counter. Because I would never pay money for these magazines, they must be rapidly digested during that ten minute wait.

One of my favorite story line right now is about Tom Cruise’s baby who was sadly deformed, because of the satanic rituals performed by the Scientology priests. “WHERE’S SURI?” “WHAT’S WRONG WITH SURI?” “WHY WON’T TOM LET THE WORLD SEE THE BABY?” “KATIE IS DEVASTATING BY THE BABY” Oh, man. Life is good.

I love that Maureen Dowd is amused by the Kevin Federline story line. The no-talent husband of the brainless Britney Spears has been a favorite of the tabloids. He’s been pigeon-holed as a leech, a money grabbing opportunist, a trophy husband, a shiftless mooch.

Dowd points out that this scenario of women out earning men is increasing. Unlike old K-Fed, some poor men are uncomfortable with their new lower earning standing. She quotes an editor of Cosmopolitan who urges women to buck up their men:

A woman with more renown and money, Ms. White continued, really has “to work hard to make sure he has his own notoriety and success in the relationship. And in that scenario, also the husband may become, like, a stay-at-home dad. But you can’t let his fame be traditionally feminine things, like, ‘Oh, you help so well,’ or, ‘You’re such a great dad.’ You’ve got to give him something with masculine overtones he’s really good at.’’

Um, gag. Well, many women who are stay-at-home moms also want their fame to be about more than baking cookies. They’ve got plans to be writers, artists, or entrepreneurs, as well as great parents. Women want all of their achievements to be recognized and to not be taken for granted.

Women may finally be getting recognition for their work at home and elsewhere, because men are increasingly taking on these roles. By equalizing work at home, by bringing the men in, the work gains stature. It’s a really backassed way to bring about equality, but it may be working.

K-Fed, a feminist hero.