Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes are notoriously private when it comes to their daughters’ lives. But the couple recently shared their commitment to gender-neutral parenting and why it’s so important to them.
Speaking to Forbes this week, Eva explained that they make an effort to challenge traditional gender stereotypes in their household. This includes the belief that household responsibilities are mainly a female priority. Eva said that while she may take care of the cleaning, Ryan is in charge of cooking.
Eva Will Clean, But Ryan Takes Care Of The Cooking
"I'm not a clean freak by any means but I love having a clean house, and especially a clean kitchen and a clean sink," she told the publication. "I feel like it's part of mental wellness for me."
Eva admitted she’s “not an amazing cook,” saying she leaves “that to Ryan.” "[It’s about] showing my girls that there are no gender-specific roles that we must take on,” she continued.
"We're all partners in this, not just Ryan and I, but our children as well," the Hitch star went on. "It's a team effort every day, so if they see him and I switch off doing certain things that, again, aren't specific to stereotypical gender things, I think that just creates balance and harmony."
Ryan and Eva were first linked in 2011 before they starred in The Place Beyond the Pines together. Their daughter Esmeralda was born in 2014, while they welcomed Amada Lee two years later in 2016.
As E! News points out, Eva’s recent interview wasn’t the only time she’s discussed her family’s approach to splitting responsibilities around the house. She reiterated a similar statement last month to PEOPLE about how she and Ryan work together.
"Ryan's the cook. He's an incredible cook," she said, while describing herself as the “kitchen freak.” "I think that there's a really nice balance to 'you cook, I clean.' And it just works for us,” she continued.
The actress shared that getting to clean up the dishes after a long day is therapeutic for her. "Life is so chaotic. But the one thing I can control is my house, my kitchen," she continued. "So when I do the dishes it's meditative for me. It really goes deeper than just cleaning up. It really gives me clarity. Clean sink equals clear mind for me."
With a relationship spanning over a decade (which is a rarity by Hollywood standards), Ryan and Eva are clearly doing something right.