Country grapples with 'husband shortage': Women face scarcity as men opt for hourly rentals
Riga (The Uttam Hindu): The European country Latvia is going through a very strange and serious social crisis these days. The gender gap has increased so much here that women have to hire 'husbands' on hourly basis for household work and support. Due to the huge shortage of men in the country, such companies are rapidly emerging which are providing temporary husbands (handymen) on rent to women. These men not only do the household work like fixing the taps or repairing the electricity, but also provide emotional support to the women suffering from loneliness by talking to them.
According to a report in the New York Post, the number of men in Latvian society has fallen significantly compared to women. Statistics show that the male population here is approximately 15.5 percent lower than that of women. This ratio is three times worse than the European Union average. The World Atlas report shows that the average age of men in Latvia is also significantly lower than that of women. The situation is such that among the population over the age of 65, the number of women is twice that of men.
This male shortage is becoming evident in everyday life and offices in Latvia. A festival organizer named Dania explained that all her colleagues in the office are women. She tried hard to find men during recruitment, but couldn't find any suitable candidates. Dania's friend, Jane, says that the shortage of men has limited the marriage options for Latvian women. This is why many women are forced to go abroad in search of a life partner or live alone.
To cope with loneliness and household responsibilities, the trend of 'rent-a-husband' has grown rapidly. Many online platforms and companies offer services where a man arrives immediately upon a phone call or online booking. These men not only perform tasks like plumbing, carpentry, and repairs, but also try to alleviate the loneliness of the women of the house by interacting with them in a respectful manner. Experts believe that the main reason for this crisis is the low life expectancy rate of men, for which excessive smoking and a poor lifestyle are considered to be the major reasons.