A Man Around the House

According to Reuters, a Russian entrepreneur has started a rent-a-husband business. No, it's not an escort service; it's all about meeting the demand for Mr. Fixits. A soaring divorce rate in Russia has left many single women feeling they need someone, if just for an hour or two, to fix leaky faucets and electrical outlets, hang wallpaper and shelves, etc. In Russia, even more than in the West, it seems, these types of tasks are considered "men's work."

Two months after Nina Rakhmanina opened for business, she has 10 "husbands," ranging in age from 27 to 45, on call. The service has become so popular that bookings have to be made at least a day in advance. Sometimes men rent "husbands," too, Rakhmanina says, because they're tired of hearing their wives complain that they are "good for nothing."

Can "rent-a-wife" be far behind?