Staying at home

A study conducted in London shows that adult men are more likely to stay with their parents, as compared to women of the same age group. This led to a debate among Gulf News readers as to which gender was more independent. While most adults might shy away when asked why they stay at home, the study of 3,000 adults showed that 56 per cent appreciate a decent meal on the table and 55 per cent have their mum do their laundry. If given the chance, would you prefer to stay with your parents? Or would you rather be more independent?

Men are more reluctant than women to leave the safety of mummy's side.

Given the choice, I would not stay with my parents. I feel it is more important to learn the hidden trials of life the hard way and most importantly alone. One doesn't just learn by reading an autobiography or hearing stories but by experiencing life. For the past four years I have been living alone. I know how interesting life can be when you have to make decisions yourself.
Adrian Anand
Chicago, USA

After having lived away from my family, I can say that men are more reluctant than women to leave their parents' home. I am now residing away from my home country and thus understand how much I miss them. I was dependent on them for everything that I needed. I really miss my parents now. I think I can comfortably say that I am a 100 per cent sure now that men are less independent than women.
Munawar Aziz
Ras Al Khaimah

Obviously, anyone would be reluctant to leave the comfort of his or her parents' home. I believe this is partly due to the fact that women are probably aware that they have to leave their home once they come of age. It is also the son's responsibility to look after his parents when they grow old. However, lucrative job offers overseas tend to lure them away. As for me, I am quite sure it will be next to impossible to do so.
Omair Zahid
Sharjah

Men break away from their mother's embrace as soon as they become financially independent. They take care of their own family and become independent in all respects, even if they are staying with their parents. Women are natural nurturers and gatherers while men are expected to be caretakers and hunters. Thus, women are naturally less independent.
Geetam Kapur
Dubai

Adults stay with their parents because they get their meals cooked and the washing done for them.

I was very independent and in fact left my house at the age of 15. I was close to my mother and it was difficult to live apart from her. However, opportunities do not always come knocking. Sometimes you need to muster the courage to leave your family, home and even your country to experience new things, to learn and to be challenged. I would not change my independence for cooked food or washed clothes.
Monica T. Lujan
Florida, USA

Adults are happy to stay with their parents due to the family connections and to maintain the social bond as well. Adults also help their parents in times of need. They also share several emotional moments with their parents. I personally think it makes sense for adults to stay with their parents and it is also beneficial from both ends considering the idea of family ethos and togetherness.
Sujit Goswami
Dubai

Adults staying at home probably don't have the option to move out, so they return home to sleep and obviously have some meals. I've been living independently for three years now and I thoroughly enjoy the experience. Being independent helps shape peoples' personalities in a much more dynamic manner. It forces them to live outside their protective shell and face the challenges of life.
Ali Yousuf
Waterloo, Canada

Every individual should experience life on their own, because it opens them to a world of experience. Being someone who has lived away from family for quite a while, I know that I would not be close to the person that I am today had I been living at home. People don't just live at home because of the home-cooked meal. But, everyone feels a sense of security living with one's parents.
Faisal Khan
Toronto, Canada

Men are less independent than women.

If given the chance, I would live with my parents again. I would like to learn from my previous mistakes and avoid them in the future and relax with a new life. A man lives for his parents and siblings before he is married. And after the wedding, his responsibilities increase. The wife and mother must understand that a man has several responsibilities towards both of them.
Tarek Jaffar
Fujairah

To work away from your home country or live without your immediate family is very difficult. We need the support of our family, and specifically our parents, everywhere we go. I also believe that men are less independent than women, because women always manage to do their work by themselves. Men, however, either tell their mother, sister or wife to do all their work for them.
Aimen Fatima
Karachi, Pakistan

Men are equally, if not more, independent as women. Men do not appreciate it if someone they know is very controlling of their lives. Everyone needs some time and space for themselves. A steady income helps one be independent. This is true for both men and women. When it comes to work, the motivation is different. A man would work, as he is the breadwinner in the family. Thus, it is a necessity.
Rehbar Merchant
Sharjah

Men cling to their mothers and wives. They depend on the women to do the simplest things for them, such as finding their belongings or when they want a cup of tea. Security binds us to home. Being tied to apron strings doesn't necessarily mean curbing your independence. If you behave responsible and in a mature manner, your family will give you all the freedom you need.
Bushra Alvi
Dubai

Adults' staying with their parents is more to do with saving on cost.

At this moment, I would say yes, considering that the global economic downturn has affected a lot of people. If one has the advantage, I would say go ahead and move in with your parents. But, at the same time one should contribute in some manner, even if it is not monetary assistance. I am currently unemployed and I do all the house chores and run the errands when everyone else is out, working.
Noorin Ansari
Sharjah

For 28 years of my life, I stayed with my parents and even raised my children in the latter years, even though I had my own house. Some people would say that it is better for a married couple to live on their own but, being independent does not mean that you are physically separated from your parents. In our culture, we stay with our parents because we value family ties.
Erma Layco
Dubai

Yes, indeed, cost savings can be more successful when adults stay with parents. This is mainly because parents have had a much detailed experience of life, by virtue of which money is used wisely. But such an adjustment is not a clever idea as those adults will always stay unaffected within the secure shelter moulded by their parents. Such a circumstance can be dangerous later on.
Megha Tony
Dubai

You can't carry on with life for long with such thoughts. Staying together has more to do with love and respect. I have been brought up in an environment wherein everyone stays together. If we search for happiness together we can truly find it. We have to depend on each other for survival and growth. So the thought of saving costs might be because of our myopic thinking of 'success at any cost'.
Hemant Mundhra
Dubai