Creature of Mad Enthusiasms

This sounds to me like a manifestation of the Superwoman/Martha Stewart myth. Men are allowed to prioritize their lives, to say, "Well, I could mow the lawn, but I want to watch the game this afternoon instead, so I'll pay someone else to do it." Women are taught that as long as something is left undone that they could do, they are at fault. Sounds as though someone taught you, way back when, that paying someone else to do something you could do yourself was either wasteful or cheating.