‘Fire up the barbie?’: Leave it to the cavemen, say women

Like most cliches, the one about men and barbecue disasters has more than a ring of truth about it.

We’ve all been there when a bossy middle-aged male commandeers the steaks and the charcoal, only for the evening’s fun to vanish in a puff of smoke.

Even so, a new study suggests that women reckon life is just simpler if they let men take control of the grill.

The survey found that almost four out of ten women felt outdoor cooking was definitely men’s work.

Some 35 per cent of them believe the combination of raw meat, fire and the open air “brought out the caveman” in males and helped them feel good about themselves.

For their part, a slightly higher proportion of men – 37 per cent – agreed that the risk element of fire made them feel protective and connected with something “primeval”.

Almost two out of ten women – 19 per cent – said they were happy to hand over control of the barbie to keep men away from jobs they are “incapable of handling”, such as setting the table or preparing side dishes.

Forty-seven per cent of men said they found themselves taking charge of the barbie because no one else wants to do it and because it can be dangerous. And more than one in ten women – 14 per cent – said it was impossible to wrestle control of the tongs from their partner, even if they wanted to.

Some 46 per cent of men and 40 per cent of women also said that males take charge because of tradition, saying: “That is how it has always been.”

Meanwhile, another 28 per cent of women who took part in the survey described manning the barbecue as a “masculine task”, with 25 per cent of men agreeing.

A quarter of women said they avoid doing the barbecue because they worry they may burn the food, compared to just 14 per cent of men who said the same.

Betting site Paddy Power Games asked 2,010 UK adults who was in charge of the barbecue.

Spokeswoman Rachael Kane said: “At work, on television and in the public sphere, gender equality is becoming more and more prevalent in Britain.

“But when it comes to the home, old stereotypes still seem to lurk around.

“Whether it be old cavemen urges to play with fire or the need to feel like a manly man, British blokes still seem to think flipping burgers is a task only they can handle.”