In this age of so-called equality, men are no less helpless in the home.

So why do we let them get away with it? Yet another report, this one from the Institute for Public Policy Research, has shown what we all know really - that in 21st century homes, where men and women are equal, where they can do the same jobs for the same pay, where they can work the same hours, where they both work long hours, it's still women who do most of the housework and childcare.

Surprised? No, neither am I.

Twenty years ago, we thought it would be different. This was going to be the age of the New Man. Men would get in touch with their gentler side. And that included taking care of babies.

Babies were suddenly fashion accessories - turning up in ads for everything from cars to razors. Nothing like a picture of a big butch man with a tiny baby to get us to spend our money.

Footballers started taking their children to matches, or even up the steps to collect the FA cup. Altogether now, Aaaaah.

And yes, there were - indeed are - some wonderful examples of New Men: caring, sharing, feeding the babies, doing the washing, buying the school shoes.

In 1985, they were fairly rare. In 2005, it seems, they are even rarer.

Another study, backed by the Economic and Social Research Council, showed that although women's working patterns have changed, their responsibility for housework and children haven't.

True, many young couples manage a pretty equal sort of life, sharing houses and responsibilities, the cleaning, ironing and shopping. But as soon as babies come along, it all goes pear shaped. And the mother has responsibility not just for the baby but for a suddenly helpless husband, who can barely look after himself and certainly can't be trusted with a child for more than an hour or two.

Why?

Is it men who are hopeless? Or women who let them be?

Maybe, deep down, we don't really want to relinquish responsibility for our children. And if that ends up including responsibility for cleaning the loo too, well, that's how it is.

Maybe we don't trust the fathers of our children to do the job, make the arrangements, buy the supper, remember the games kit/recorder/swimming togs. They may well be absolutely hopeless. But how will they learn unless they have plenty of practice?

Maybe we're fighting a couple of hundred thousand years worth of conditioning and you can't reverse that in a decade or so.

We were the generation who were told we could have it all. And we have - all the work, that is.

But maybe it's time we tried a bit harder. Or in another 20 years, our daughters will be facing just the same problems.

SO are you giving up anything for Lent? Strange, isn't it, that although it's quite OK to give up things as part of a New Year resolution, or as part of a diet, giving things up for Lent seems a bit, well odd.

But a bit of self discipline never did anyone any harm, so yes, I might give something up for Lent.

But I'm not quite sure what yet.

SCIENTISTS have now proved that men can think more quickly than women. But scientists have also proved that men think about sex every six seconds. No wonder they can think so quickly - it's nearly always on the same subject.

Sins for the 21st century

THE Seven Deadly Sins used to be Lust, Sloth, Anger, Gluttony, Pride, Envy and Greed - a pretty impressive list, first worked out by Pope Gregory the Great in the sixth century.

In a new poll by Mori for the BBC, people voted for Seven Modern Deadly Sins - Cruelty, Adultery, Bigotry, Dishonesty, Hypocrisy, Greed and Selfishness.

Pretty impressive, but I'd still like a few more. How about Apathy, Smugness, Narrowmindedness and Thoughtlessness for a start. I'm sure you can think of some more.

Incidentally, an amazing nine per cent of those polled said they had never been guilty of any of the original Seven Deadly Sins.

Well, they might be perfect, but good grief they must also be incredibly boring.