Principles Of Life

“I am joining the Saffolalife #ChhoteKadam initiative in association withBlogAdda and follow these small steps for a healthy heart.”


Staying Active
Stand Up at Work
Work is a place where many of us are sedentary for hours, and the result is a lost opportunity to burn hundreds (if not thousands) of calories every day. A stand-up desk could help change that. “Standing obviously puts more stress on the body than sitting, thus it will burn more calories,” says Rich Gaspari, a personal trainer and owner of Gaspari Nutrition. “If you stand for an entire workday, it can help increase leg strength and endurance. A little change like standing instead of sitting can go a long way.” If your workplace isn’t a stand-up kind of environment, take a five-minute break at least once an hour to engage in some activity.
Experts estimate that standing burn 50 percent more calories than sitting, so a 155-pound person could burn an extra 50 calories an hour just by getting on their feet.

“I am joining the Saffolalife #ChhoteKadam initiative in association with BlogAdda and follow these small steps for a healthy heart.” Fidget While You Work
If a stand-up desk isn't practical at your workplace, there are other ways to incorporate more activity into your workday, says Amanda Russell, a personal trainer in New York. “At the office, replace your chair with an exercise ball. Sitting on it forces you to stabilize your abs. Or take a break every couple hours and walk a few flights of stairs — it will help you energize and re-focus,” she says. “When you’re talking on the phone, don’t just sit there. Stand up, and pace around your room or office.”

These little changes add up: Even small amounts of movement such as drumming your legs increases your calorie burn above resting levels 20 to 40 percent.

Eating Better
Don't give anything up
Eat all the foods you enjoy—but the key is to do it insmaller quantities, says Elisa Zied, RDN, who has lost and kept off more than 30 pounds since her highest weight in high school. In fact, she says it's the number one change she made that's helped her maintain her smaller frame. "I didn't want to feel deprived as I had in previous attempts to lose weight," she says. The worst thing you can do is be too strict, then rebound by overeating because you're not satisfied.

Being Healthy
Get lots of sleep. In order to be a very healthy person, you need 8-10 hours of sleep every 24 hours. This keeps you awake and alert, so you don't have to drink caffeine and sugar-loaded energy drinks. If you are a kid and have early school times, go to sleep earlier on school nights.
A proper diet contains the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables, and fat. For carbohydrates, eat whole grains. Lean meat is the best source of protein. Try to get at least 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Eating a small amount of fat is needed to keep your body functioning smoothly.
It is key in making you run throughout the day. Try drinking 8 eight-ounce glasses of water each day. It helps you re-energize and keep going. Not drinking enough fresh water can lead to acne, headaches, and even dehydration. Do this, and you'll become a very healthy person.

• Staying Active
  “I am joining the Saffolalife #ChhoteKadam initiative in association with BlogAdda and follow these small steps for a healthy heart.”
  “I am joining the Saffolalife #ChhoteKadam initiative in association withBlogAdda and follow these small steps for a healthy heart.”
  Like most Americans, you probably spend a lot of time sitting — in your car, at your desk, on the couch. Even if you balance out your time in the chair with trips to the gym,research shows that too much sitting can up your risk of breast and colon cancers.Another Recent study found that too much time parked in front of the TV may actually take years off your life.
  Luckily, it’s easy to counteract the negative effects of sitting by simply moving more. A study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that moderate-to-intense physical activity in sedentary children improved the kids’ waist circumference, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and more across the board. In adults, research has found that being active can reduce your risk of colon cancer by 35 percent and breast cancer by 25 percent, and it’s never too late to make over your lifestyle.
  If you’re interested in boosting your health and trimming your waistline — no gym or expensive equipment required — here are eight simple ways to bake more activity into your day. Your health will thank you.
  Eating Better
  Healthy eating is not about strict dietary limitations, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, improving your outlook, and stabilizing your mood. If you feel overwhelmed by all the conflicting nutrition and diet advice out there, you’re not alone. It seems that for every expert who tells you a certain food is good for you, you’ll find another saying exactly the opposite. But by using these simple tips, you can cut through the confusion and learn how to create a tasty, varied, and healthy diet that is as good for your mind as it is for your body.
  
  
  Being Happy
  
  
  1. Enjoying the present moment is a habit that takes practice.
  If you always look toward tomorrow for happiness, odds are you will do the same when you attain what you’ve been dreaming of. As strange it sounds, the ability to appreciate what’s in front of you has nothing to do with what you actually have. It’s more about how you measure the good things in your life at any given time.
  Practice wanting what you have and it will feel even sweeter when you eventually have what you want. Look around—what’s in front of you that you can enjoy?
  2. Finding reasons to be happy now can benefit your future.
  Dr. Dacher Keltner of the University of California claims she can predict a person’s future by judging the strength of their smile. Researchers examined yearbook photos of 111 female students taken between 1958 and 1960.
  Subsequent tests revealed that the women who expressed more positive emotion in those photos became more mentally focused, had more successful marriages, and enjoyed a greater sense of well-being.
  From the article:
  “While positive emotion tends to broaden thought, negative emotion tends to narrow it and hold back development….The findings of Dr Keltner and his colleagues, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, are among the first to show that differences in the extent to which people express emotion may be stable throughout their lives and dictate personal and social success.”
  3. Tuning into joy can improve your health, something that affords you many possibilities in life.
  Something that most people take for granted until it’s compromised.
  Christopher Peterson, Ph.D of the University of Michigan, who has studied optimism’s link to health for over twenty years, shows optimistic people have a stronger immune system than their negative counterparts. This may be due to their tendency to take better care of themselves.
  Choose to be happy now and you’ll have more days of good health to enjoy.
• 
  

The Dream That Came True

It was years and years joey wanted to play for a professionally football team. This was a dream for so many but for joey it was just more than a dream since he was 6 years old he dreamt about this. Joey was a fantastic footballer in his county teams but he wanted to go further till he reached his target. He previously was offered to play for the city team when he becomes 17 but he knew if he had accepted this offer he could not reach his dream. Joey took his football seriously on Saturdays and Sundays he got up at 5  am just to train he was just amazing how he could just carry on without no stops.  

“I am blogging about my dreams and the people who helped make them true for the #AdviceThatMattered activity at BlogAdda in association with Stoodnt.”

Joey went to his county club peakers  fc they were second in 1st league he had training 4 times from 4;15-5:30 pm  he went as normal did miss out any days. So one day there was scouting coaches from all top professorial clubs such as Manchester united, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal this was a chance for Joey so they were playing a match Joey had already scored his hat trick as a top player. So the coaches were taking notes of the players and just watching them for place in the squads. It was end of the match Joey’s team had a free kick from 4o yards out of the goal so then Joey struck the was total silence.

SMASH!!! GOAL!!” this was huge goal for Joey it was a top class free kick. This surely had to make a place for Joey in a professionally squad it was the end of the match and the Manchester united  scouting coach came of and asked Joey some questions about the team The last question he asked Joey what professionally team would he like to play for Joey straight away answered Manchester united.

The coach said “I see you are a outstanding player for your age a real professional player, right  we would like to give you  a chance for a 8 week trial at our training ground as for  2 years youth team, we will send you the form with every bit of information on it”.

Joey said “yes of course it would be my honour to, i dreamt about this for years,thank you, thank you very much. So he went and told his family and his friends they were shocked but not too much because they know his talent of football. Joey waited for the information form, his mum said “post Joey” Joey sprinted down and the information form was there he rapidly opened it and he read all the information his training was in the 7th of august 2012 on the Manchester untied training ground it was 3 days till Joey starts his 8 week trial. So in the 3 days Joey was working his socks of totally he just didn’t want to stop at any time he wanted to be perfect before his trials.

It was the last day he could train hard as he can so he went to training and couldn’t stop his self from scoring it was unbelievable so that night Joey got prepared for the trials tomorrow. So Joey woke up and was very happy he could not stop thinking about this for even 1 second. So Joey was off with his mum driving the car and asking him

” Joey are you sure want to go today”

Joey replied “of course i want to go this was my dream his mum replied,

“ok if it was your dream”.

Joey could see it he was so excited he could even describe it, so Joey went to the administration office and showed them the letter and explained and they said “go through” Joey waved and said “thanks mum bye”

his mum replied “bye joey “.

Joey went and went in to the room where other boys were selected for this and listened what will be happening through these after all of the information everyone needed they were going to train now so everyone headed to the changing rooms. Joey wasn’t that nervous he was more like anxious so when everyone was changed they headed on to the training pitch they had a quick warm up and they were having a ability match. This match was to see what ability level was these player working at Joey knew that he was at a good level but he didn’t think he is going to be top player.

Joey found it hard to score but his pace and skills created one amazing 25 yard shot and smash,smack and goal. This was a time for Joey to show the coaches for how skilled and talented he is and how much he would love to be in the squad he wanted that place. So it was 6 trials gone and it was a pressured step for Joey at this crucial stage  Joey couldn’t not afford a single mistake.

Now Joey had a lot of support from his family but Joey had a lot of pressure to he was strong determined not to let go off his football,he was a bit worried that he might let go of all of it so he just thought it is a normal training stage but he has to play to his max. 7th trial assessing the player this was the first half of the test for the place in the squad Joey was strong and ready to fire up his skilful talented football. So Joey was in the match to his max, he knew this will pay something off,joey carried on to play his  match ref blew the whistle match ended and it was of the first part of assessing done. So Joey kept going like normal but focused on his football trial the last one the final were who made it in the squad.

The morning hovered and Joey’s alarm clock went off and it was 7 am ,joey had to get there at 9 am so he had time to get prepared for the big day. Now Joey was on his way to Manchester untied training ground Joey went trough with all the other players and got changed and on to the pitch were his final assessing part 2 trial 8 was going to take place. Joey was playing his extreme full skill and full pace SMASH!! GOALLLLLLLL!!

Joey had scored wow skilled on his own passed all defenders smacked the ball from 20 yards this surely had something, final whistle blew that was it 8 week trail over now for the place in the squad. So the players got changed and were out in the conference room this was the moment Joey has been waiting for all his life. The head coach silenced the crowd and explained it all.

The head coach said “If you do not get through today it is not a shame you all are top class professional players that’s why you all attended this 8 week trial. Now the names that are going to be officially in the squad are John Smith,Aaron Wayne, Leon Spade, Joey Lane and Brandon Conner all of you players are through officially to the Manchester united squad”

Everyone clapped. Joey couldn’t even say nothing this was the best thing in his life went he went back home he told everyone friends and family. This is was all of Joey’s  hard work, he never gave up he just carried on he was determined to let and his dream came true.

Dreams Do Come True

Dreams do come true. Everyone in their life has a dream or two or three. Finding the way to achieve your dreams, goals, and aspirations is an epic journey on its own. It takes discipline, determination, and self -exploration. This is the tale of the journey I am still currently on. 

“I am blogging about my dreams and the people who helped make them true for the #AdviceThatMattered activity at BlogAdda in association with Stoodnt.”

As a child I always wanted to be in the spotlight. I was always the ham in family pictures, the one who had to excel past my brother, and be in the know of everything. When I was about twelve years old, I realized that entertaining people was what I was all about. Since I wasn’t any good at telling the jokes around the campfire or singing acappella, I thought about trying my dance skills. I liked dancing and I have always enjoyed music videos like Janet Jackon’s “Miss you much”, so I thought why not? What did I have to lose? With the support of my parents, particularly my mom, I went for the gusto. 

Like any first experience we remember all the details of the event. I remember my first dance class at J in Jazz Dance Studio. I was under the instruction of Julie Pederson who was one of the young faces in my little town of Sierra Vista. I was thirteen and thought that the class was awesome. Now if you are under the impression that I was great the first time around you are wrong. I was the one goofy awkward kid who was there having fun. Julie thought that I would be gone by the end of three months because I couldn’t hack it. She was just glad that I was there having fun and being a good student. According to some experts, since I started after the age of ten I was not supposed to be any good. Just six months after starting, something somewhere happened to both me and my dance ability. I was put on the competition/performance team, and then I just kept excelling from there. Every year or two, I was put on a higher more difficult team. The last team that I was put on was created because my other teammates and myself were excelling past the other team levels. I found my niche with dancing and found my hidden talent. I just kept on surprising myself and my family and friends. 

Competitions were the best part about being on the team. This was the part where I got the most competitive. Once on stage, I transformed from the girl, who back in school, was quiet and shy to the girl who was rocking, smiling, showing off, making others want to get up off their seats. I am a “crazy sexy tiger” with a sudden surge of absolute adrenaline rush throughout my body that I just gave it my all. A lot of people never knew that I was just starting on my path to becoming a dancer. The judges thought that the way I presented myself was great, which is such a compliment coming from them. 

Attending dance conventions was a good eye opener to the dance world and the world of going professional. While attending Tremaine dance convention, I was dancing with some of the most talented and sought out choreographers in the country and world. The teachers of Tremaine include Desiree Robinson, Doug Caldwell, and Wade Robson. These three had the most influence on me. They all made me see that performing was what I loved doing. Julie had also shown me the whole time, but the fact that they are the best choreographers this great country has really let me see that my dream was attainable. Meeting them and getting to make the connections with them, and Joe Tremaine himself, was the best thing I could have done in starting a dance career. After talking to Joe Tremaine, he personally referred me to some dance agencies in Los Angeles, California. This is a dream come true for a lot of dancers. 

Once I moved to Flagstaff, I decided I was going to go for the gold and call the dance agents. I was so nervous when I called and talked to them. I was worried. Would they like me? Will they represent me? What do I do or say when I talk to them? The moment came and I called the three studios in California. Once they found out that I got the information for their agencies from Joe Tremaine personally, they seemed to become very interested in me. Little ol’ me was suddenly getting the attention for being a dancer. 

This is about where my tale ends. I have to call the studios again and submit tapes of my performances, a resume, and a headshot to them. Once this is completed, the agents will either pick me up or not. The anxiety I have about this is intense, but it feels great. My mom is helping me through all of this in every way she can. My dance instructor is also, as usual, helping in every way possible and will continue to do so even if I make it to the big time. I can hardly wait to see what is the next stop on my road to becoming a dancer. 

If I could teach anyone anything it would be to follow your dreams and try to make them come true. They say it is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all. I believe this is true for our dreams. It is better to have tried than to not have tried at all. I would much rather know that I gave it my all, than live with the “what ifs” in the back of my mind from not trying. Like a movie once said, ” you gotta keep on keepin’ on.” We are all shinning stars.

Benefits of Filing your Income Tax Return on time

“I’m taking the #TaxPledge to file IT returns with the easy Income Tax efiling option from H&R Block at BlogAdda.”

Under Income Tax Law if your total income exceeds the basic exemption limit: You have to file the Income Tax Return within the prescribed time, i.e. by the due date.

This is applicable for the Assessment Year 2012-13.

As an Individual you are required by law to file your Income Tax Returns, if your total income without allowing deductions (such as Section 80C etc) exceeds the basic exemption limit.

For Assessment Year 2012-13, the basic exemption limits are the following:

•   For Men below the age of 60, the exemption limit is Rs. 1,80,000.

•   For Women, below the age of 60, the exemption limit is Rs. 1,90,000.

•   For Senior Citizens, whose age is between 60 years to 80 years, the exemption limit is Rs. 2,50,000. This is identical for men and women.

•   For Super Senior Citizens, of the age of 80 years or more, the exemption limit is Rs. 5,00,000.

What does Total Income without allowing deductions (such as Section 80C etc) actually mean?

Let’s say, your gross total Income is Rs. 2,00,000. You have paid Rs. 50,000 in LIC premium for claiming deduction under Section 80C. Your Taxable Income is Rs. 1,50,000 (Rs. 2,00,000 – Rs. 50,000). The tax payable on Rs. 1,50,000 is Zero.

However, even in this situation, you are required to file your Income Tax Return as your gross total Income exceeds the basic exemption limit of Rs. 1,80,000. (assuming you are not a senior citizen).

Exemption for filing Income Tax Return for Salaried Employees

For the Assessment Year 2012-13, there is an exemption from filing the Income Tax Return for Salaried employees, subject to the following conditions. 

•   Your Total Income after deductions (such as Section 80C etc) is upto Rs. 5,00,000.

•   Income other than Salary should be only from Saving Bank Interest, upto Rs. 10,000. If you have any other source of Income like House Property, Capital Gain, or even interest from fixed deposits, you will have to file your Income Tax Return.

•   You must declare this Interest Income from the Saving Bank to the Employer. The employer then has to deduct the TDS taking into account your Interest Income.

•   If you have a refund due, you need to your file your Income Tax Return to claim this refund.

This exemption is difficult to get in actual practice. You will most likely have to file your Income Tax Return.

This is because, you must declare your Interest Income to your employer before 31st March of the Financial Year. But in most cases, the Bank issues the Interest statement after 31st March. So it is virtually impossible to report the Bank Interest to the employer in time.

Compulsory filing of Income Tax Returns if you have foreign assets.

For the Assessment 2012-13, it is mandatory to file your Income Tax Return if you have any foreign assets. Even though you may not have any taxable Income.

When is e-filing your Income Tax Return compulsory?

For the Assessment year 2012-13, e-filing of the Income Tax Return has become compulsory for the following cases:

•   If your Total Income exceeds Rs. 10 Lakhs, then you must e-file your Income Tax Return.

•   If you own foreign assets, you must e-file.

I have paid all my taxes, do I still need to file my Income Tax Return?

As explained above, the law has placed an obligation on you to file the Income Tax Return even if you have no tax due.

The due dates of filing returns for Assessment Year 2012-13 are the following:

Category	Due Date
(a)   Most people fall in this category – Salaried employees, pensioners and other persons whose accounts are not required to be audited	31st July 2012
(b)   Companies and other persons whose accounts are to be audited	30th September 2012

What happens if a person does not file the Income Tax Return by the due date

You have to Pay Interest on Income Tax Due if you don’t file on time

If you do not file the Income Tax Return by the due date:

You are liable to pay interest at the rate of one percent for every month after the due date till the date of filing the return.

If No Tax is due: Interest is calculated on the amount of tax payable after adjustment of pre-paid taxes like advance tax, TDS etc. So, if there is no tax payable on the basis of the Income declared in the Tax Return, there is no liability for the payment of interest.

You don’t get the benefit of Carry Forward of Losses if you don’t file on time

Under income tax law, if you have sustained a Business loss or loss under the head “Capital Gains”, you can carry forward the loss ONLY if you file the Income Tax Return by the due date.

Therefore, if you have sustained a loss, you must file your Income Tax Return in time if you want to carry forward the loss for future adjustment with your Income.

Possibility of Penalty or Prosecution by the Income Tax Department

Say you could not file the Income Tax Return by the due date: To avoid any penalty by the Income Tax Department, you must file your Income Tax Return before the end of the relevant assessment year that is 31st March 2013.

Possibility of Penalty and Prosecution: If you do not file your Income Tax Return by 31st March 2013, the Income Tax Department may impose a penalty of Rs. 5000, even though the tax payable by you may be Zero.

Further, if a person has failed to file the Income Tax Return by 31st March 2013 and the tax payable after adjustment of advance tax and TDS exceeds Rs. 3000, he may be prosecuted for imprisonment also. However, this law is used in practice very rarely.

Other reasons for filing the returns of income within time

·         If a refund is due after adjustment of prepaid taxes, it is necessary to file the Income Tax Return to get the refund from the Income Tax Department.

·         Bank Loans: Further, the return is a declaration of your income and it will be extremely helpful when you are applying for a loan from bank. Before granting the loan, banks want to know your financial capacity and your income details as shown by you in income tax returns. 

·         Visas of foreign countries: Many countries want to know if you are financially sound before they issue you a visa and for this purpose they will rely on your income tax returns.

       why to write IT returns and advantages of it
“I’m taking the #TaxPledge to file IT returns with the easy Income Tax efiling option from H&R Block at BlogAdda.”


The tax that is levied on the earnings of individuals, businesses, corporations or other legal entities is referred to as Income Tax.  The types of payments that fall under the tax bracket like capital gains, business incomes and personal income or wages are called “Tax Net”.

There is no universal tax rate fixed for all incomes. It varies across different sectors and sections and there maybe few incomes that do not fall under the tax bracket at all. Primarily we deal with two types of taxes namely Direct Taxes and Indirect Taxes. Direct Taxes are those whose liability is directly borne by the tax payer for example income tax where as the liability of indirect taxes like VAT etc can be slipped on to a third party.

The Income Tax Act 1961 states that all those assesses whose total income exceeds the prescribed bracket of exemption will be charged with income tax. It is important to know that the residential status of the individual also plays a pivotal role in determining the total income of an individual.

Meaning of Income Tax Returns – If you fall under the taxation bracket then you would have to provide a declaration to the Income Tax Department about the earnings you have made with permitted deductions and exemptions that computes your tax liability in a format that is pre-defined by the Government at the end of every financial year.

This also includes royalties on which no tax has been deducted, interest on your savings bank account, earnings from part-time work, dividends, fees, rent etc which have not been taxed or maybe a part or portion of which has been taxed. These statements signed and affirmed by you revealing the correct picture of your income during the previous financial year are collected by the Government. This is known as Income Tax Return or Return of Income.

Benefits of Filing Tax Return Online

• While you file your returns online, the calculations are done automatically thus you are relieved from the hassle of calculations and confusions. You get to know that very moment what money you owe or what would come back to you. Obviously, its accuracy can not be questioned.
• It is easier, convenient and time saving. The money that is owed to you reaches you within weeks whereas if you go by the traditional method it takes time.
• The moment you click the submit icon, you receive the acknowledge slip
• Those of you who wish to save yourself from the plethora of paperwork, filing income tax returns online is a boon.
• Another benefit of filing tax return online is that you do not have to wait in long queues nor have to pay an agent who can stand on your behalf for hours in the office in order to file your returns.
• Online tax returns have broken the notion that government offices have specific fixed hours of working. You may file your returns at any time in day or night.
• As it becomes more easily accessible, filing returns online also gives you an advantage of checking the status of your refund. 

How to File Income Tax Returns Online

Electronic Filing or E-Filing is referred to the process of filing your tax returns online. Follow the following steps for filing tax returns online. 

• The very first thing that you ought to do is to sign up as a new user by visiting the official website of Income Tax of India.
• While you sign up as a new user you will be asked to give out your PAN Number and other details. Once you fill in the form click on the button that says “Register”.
• Once you get registered you will be taken to a form that shows your address, the one that you have given for your PAN card. You need to update your telephone number, e-mail, create your password and click “Submit”.
• You will now be turned to the e-filing links for your tax returns for the assessment year. Now you are required to click on the link for the assessment year and choose your category. For example, if you are the one only with salaried income then download only ITR-1.
• Along with that also download the excel utility which is like an excel sheet in which you will fill in the required data and you need to save that on your system.
• Once through with this, upload the excel sheet and press “Submit Return”.
• Once through with this, you will see that an acknowledgement slip pops up on your screen. You will have to take a print out of the same, verify and sign it and post it to your local income tax office.
• Make sure that the acknowledgement receipt reaches your local income tax office within 15 days since you have filled in the form online failing which you will be required to go through the same process again.
• For all the tech-savvy people out there, digital signatures can also be used if you wish to eliminate even the slightest paper work. 

Filing Tax Return has become all the more convenient, accurate, paperless, time-saving and secured since the time it has become just a click away. However, while you turn to filing income tax returns online make sure that you cross check your address on the form, your return is being mailed to the right server. All pages should bear your Name and other credentials on front as well as back.

Having done that, you can enjoy the luxury of filing your income tax returns online from anywhere at anytime.

               Gender equality 

Working-class couples that buck convention and live together rather than marry take on traditional roles when it comes to housework, according to a new study by a Cornell University sociologist.

Cohabiting women do a disproportionate share of the housework, even when the women work and the men don't -- and even when the women want to share the housework more equally, said co-author Sharon Sassler, Cornell professor of policy analysis and management.

"When men aren't working, they don't see domestic labor as a means of contributing. In fact, they double down and do less of it, since it challenges their masculinity," Sassler said. "But when men earn more, women -- who are almost all working, too -- feel obliged to contribute in some way to maintaining the household, generally by cooking and cleaning."

Even where housework was shared somewhat equally, the women tended to supervise the men's chores; as a result, women retained accountability for its performance.

But not all gender roles go unquestioned among these couples, the researchers found. Most of the women came to their relationships expecting more equal partnerships. Most men preferred to have a partner who also worked for pay, and about one-third of the couples were actively trying to share equally the burden of making money.

Nonetheless, the men seemed content to reap the benefits of partners who brought in an income without challenging their dominant domestic power positions. In fact, none of the couples equally shared household and financial responsibilities, Sassler said.

"The connection between masculinity and privileges is maintained for many of these men. Almost none of the women who paid the majority of the household bills were awarded the privileges that male providers have traditionally received," she said, such as retaining control of household finances.

Sassler wrote the research with Amanda J. Miller of the University of Indianapolis. Their paper, "The Construction of Gender Among Working-Class Cohabiting Couples," was published in the December issue of Qualitative Sociology.

The researchers interviewed 30 working-class cohabiting couples between ages 19 and 35. They found the couples fell into three groups: conventional, in which each partner accepts the traditional gender role; contesting, in which one partner (generally the woman) tries to forge a more balanced arrangement, though often unsuccessfully; and counter-conventional, in which the female partner often provides financially and still must perform most household labor.

The research shows that it's tough to change traditional gender roles even among people living together, who ostensibly might be trying to undo the conventional roles of a male breadwinner and female homemaker, Sassler said.

Given that the majority of marriages are preceded by a period of cohabitation, the study suggests that living together sets the stage for re-creating unequal gender roles. The institutionalization of gender roles that disadvantage women is evident even in informal relationships, Sassler said.

"What's the final frontier of gender equality? Who cleans up."

 “I am taking part in the #ShareTheLoad Challenge with Ariel and Akshara at BlogAdda."