Donkeys [apparently] make better companions than housewives

"...the housewife may sometimes complain and walk off to her parents' home, (but), you'll never catch the donkey being disloyal to his master." - So reads an excerpt in a text book meant for 14 year olds in India. More here.

This textbook, approved by the state of Rajasthan even goes on to imply that donkeys are a shade better than housewives - and what was the state's reply to this?
"The comparison was made in good humour" - A.R. Khan, Official, State Education

Interestingly, back in the day - certain modules took top spot in the education of the girl child. The Education of a Woman included gardening, tailoring, housekeeping, reading, writing, spinning, weaving, etc.

New research however has a completely different story to relate, as cited by John Tierney. He talks of how women were the most happy with the following type of husbands:

1. Affectionate and understanding husbands

2. Primary breadwinner husbands

3. Tidy husbands

Here's a shocking one: "Women today expect more help around the home and more emotional engagement from their husbands," Wilcox says. "But they still want their husbands to be providers who give them financial security and freedom."

This is further elaborated here; that talks of the unfulfilled husband who performs better at work, provided his wife spends more time at home – caring and sharing and attending to her housewifely chores. Goes to show that men do depend heavily on women, so much so that, “Married men earn more than single men, but only if their wife stays at home - and does all the chores.” [snort]

I wonder how a donkey would affect the efficiency and ability of her husband to generate more money. Hmmm...