Husbands and wives often have different ideas as to how much time should be dedicated to the couple and the individual. Wives tend to want more couple time, usually because they regard it as important for bolstering a marriage and solidifying the sense of couple. Many husbands, on the other hand, prefer more time on their own.
It’s not that men aren’t that interested in spending time with their wives. Rather, it’s often the case that men have more and better quality leisure time than women. Men are pretty good at compartmentalizing, so issues they’re dealing with in one part of their lives don’t interfere with the other parts. It’s easier for them to put their work and home responsibilities aside and enjoy whatever else they’re doing. Perhaps more importantly, many husbands expect their wives to take care of their home and family. Consequently, they don’t feel as much pressure to sacrifice their personal time as their wives might.
Women’s responsibilities make their leisure time problematic. Their concerns about family and home are often on their minds, even when they’re supposed to be taking time off. While some can balance their various roles as spouse, worker, and home maintainer, many are unable to switch off these roles and relax enough to get absorbed in their personal interests. The result is to make their personal time more fragmented, stressful, and much less enjoyable. Additionally, despite all their responsibilities, many women don’t feel as entitled to free time as do men. They might feel guilty when they take time for themselves, and that can makes their leisure time more of a source of stress.
