Rent-a-husband for housework, anyone?

Moscow’s city fathers have rather idealistic notions about the handiness of husbands around the house. Otherwise, would they decide to classify the men tasked by city-hall authorities to help women carry out small domestic repairs — at least unofficially — as ‘husbands’ as they would be fulfilling the traditional householder’s role?

Many men and women would surely beg to differ. Not merely because of the gender stereotypes inherent in such divisions of labour but due to sheer anecdotal evidence from countless ‘real’ husbands and wives about who does what around the house these days, in Moscow and elsewhere.

That actual husbands do not get paid for such services could explain their legendary reluctance to bestir themselves to be useful when necessary. So, a government-appointed (and salaried) rented consort could be just the ticket for sure-fire speedy redressal of domestic problems — of a certain kind at least.

Of course, the nature of the services that such rented mooshes (husbands) would be permitted to deliver will presumably be strictly supervised. Otherwise, the whole institution of marriage may come unstuck, first in Moscow and then elsewhere, if women decide their dial-a-husbands have all the advantages — usefulness, 24×7 availability and model upgrade options — and none of the liabilities.