There’s a new study out suggesting that doing dishes, gardening, even showering– what the researchers are calling “daily life movement” can reduce mortality risk from heart attack and other cardiovascular disease in women. Of course, the news article features a woman doing dishes and smiling:
This image reminds me of all those smiling women eating salad:
I have opinions about the new study, which you’ll hear about soon. But in the meantime, we at Fit is a Feminist Issue have been covering the housework-as-exercise beat for some time. In case you missed some of them, here are a few posts we’ve written about housework, fitness and exercise.
Tracy wrote about how calorie count lists for household chores is a set up to divert women away from movement they might love and toward more gender-stereotypical behaviors:
Shell Game: Why Knowing How Many Calories Your Housework Burns Is a Set-Up
I also wrote about the cleaning-as-cardio myth– its past and present:
Cleaning is NOT the new cardio: Women, housework and not working out
Sam wrote about some studies showing that extremely sedentary people may experience over-exertion evening after doing dishes or other ordinary life activities:
Hate exercise? You might just be much more unfit than you think
Check them out…
Readers, where does housework fit in your everyday exercise or movement routine? Do some chores count but not others? Let us know what you think.