[quote=klydon1

My mother-in-law takes out the garbage, and when I asked why her son didn't do it, she answered that she never told him what day the trash collection was.

I don't know if this trait is familiar. I'm sure it exists in other groups too. [/quote]

This is pretty much widespread throughout the Mediterranean. Men do no cooking, cleaning, etc., and the women do all the "menial work." My own mohter who is half Spanish is apalled that I will make my own coffee, empty the garbage, pitch in with the dishes, etc. because she thinks men should not do women's work. It is slowly changing everywhere (except perhaps among the Arabs).