Sociology 1201Sociology 1201

Soc 1201: Week NineSoc 1201: Week Nine

The division of labor by sexThe division of labor by sex Video: “Video: “Daddy and PapaDaddy and Papa” ”

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How do American parents How do American parents divide the work of parenting? divide the work of parenting?

Many studies documenting that Many studies documenting that women, in the U.S. and in the world, women, in the U.S. and in the world, do more than half of the parenting, do more than half of the parenting, even if: even if: – They say they believe in equal sharingThey say they believe in equal sharing

E.g. Hochschild, E.g. Hochschild, Second ShiftSecond Shift

– They work comparable hoursThey work comparable hours– They make comparable incomesThey make comparable incomes

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My partner and IMy partner and I

Intention to share equallyIntention to share equally First year after son’s birth:First year after son’s birth:

Deutsch: “No matter how intensely you love Deutsch: “No matter how intensely you love them, caring for small children full time is them, caring for small children full time is incredibly hard work, much of it stressful, incredibly hard work, much of it stressful, boring, and isolating.” boring, and isolating.”

By second year and move to Duluth:By second year and move to Duluth:– Dad teaching and Mom in nursing school Dad teaching and Mom in nursing school – ““Momdad”Momdad”And then in the third year, our equal sharing And then in the third year, our equal sharing

broke down, and “all the kings horses….” broke down, and “all the kings horses….”

Sociology 1201Sociology 1201

Halving it All: Francine DeutschHalving it All: Francine Deutsch

Recruited 429 couples by a letter to dual earner Recruited 429 couples by a letter to dual earner couples at daycares and schools in New England, couples at daycares and schools in New England, by word of mouth, by random sampling in the by word of mouth, by random sampling in the telephone directorytelephone directory

Result was 429 couples, each partner working at Result was 429 couples, each partner working at least 20 hrs a week and with at least one child least 20 hrs a week and with at least one child under 18under 18

96% white96% white Religiously diverseReligiously diverse Averaged 2 childrenAveraged 2 children Average age of children: 5 and 8Average age of children: 5 and 8 Over-represent upper middle class Over-represent upper middle class

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Initial telephone interviewsInitial telephone interviews

Asked to interview each partner out of Asked to interview each partner out of hearing of the otherhearing of the other

15 minute interviews, asking about 15 minute interviews, asking about work hours and percentage of work hours and percentage of childcare by each, along with childcare by each, along with demographic questionsdemographic questions

Key question: “Considering everything Key question: “Considering everything that goes into parenting in a typical that goes into parenting in a typical week, what % do you do and what % week, what % do you do and what % does your spouse do.”does your spouse do.”

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Face-to-face interviewsFace-to-face interviews

Used the telephone interviews to Used the telephone interviews to choose 30 couples in each of five choose 30 couples in each of five groups for face-to-face interviewsgroups for face-to-face interviews– Equal sharers, where both agreedEqual sharers, where both agreed– Potential equal sharers (at least one Potential equal sharers (at least one

spouse reported husband doing 50%+)spouse reported husband doing 50%+)– 60-40 couples60-40 couples– 75-25 couples75-25 couples– Alternating shift couplesAlternating shift couples

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Face-to-face interviews IIFace-to-face interviews II

Most participants interviewed at Most participants interviewed at homehome

All interviewed by DeutschAll interviewed by Deutsch Interviews from 1-4 hours, averaging Interviews from 1-4 hours, averaging

2 hours2 hours

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Creating Equality at HomeCreating Equality at Home

Deutsch. “Parenthood … has the capacity to Deutsch. “Parenthood … has the capacity to change people’s deeply held beliefs, relation change people’s deeply held beliefs, relation to work, relationships with other people, and to work, relationships with other people, and even one’s identity. The magnitude of the even one’s identity. The magnitude of the changes parenthood entails almost always changes parenthood entails almost always comes as a shock to new parents.” comes as a shock to new parents.”

““I had a complete mental image of I had a complete mental image of parenthood that didn’t last twenty-four parenthood that didn’t last twenty-four hours after Noah came home.” Danielhours after Noah came home.” Daniel

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Creating Equality at HomeCreating Equality at Home

Many of the equal sharers did not begin Many of the equal sharers did not begin equal; even if they did, making a success equal; even if they did, making a success of it required conflict and compromise. of it required conflict and compromise.

Often still involved specialization… Often still involved specialization… “ “Mary is more involved in their emotional lives” Mary is more involved in their emotional lives” ““He(Kevin) is one of the few who truly share the He(Kevin) is one of the few who truly share the

mental work of parenting.”mental work of parenting.” Often the woman has the “higher standard” of Often the woman has the “higher standard” of

what constitutes good parenting (Dan and what constitutes good parenting (Dan and Kaelene)Kaelene)

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Creating Inequality at HomeCreating Inequality at Home

– Helpers: “Eric will do stuff, but he wants to be Helpers: “Eric will do stuff, but he wants to be asked.” Deniseasked.” Denise

– Sharers: the men do more paid work but “when Sharers: the men do more paid work but “when they are available, they are every bit as they are available, they are every bit as involved as their wives.”involved as their wives.”

– Slackers (Is she revealing her bias?): “the men Slackers (Is she revealing her bias?): “the men who relax while their wives do the second who relax while their wives do the second shift”… see p. 46shift”… see p. 46

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Creating Inequality at homeCreating Inequality at home

Denise and EricDenise and Eric Denise: “I have greater needs as a nurturer.”Denise: “I have greater needs as a nurturer.” Eric: “I’m either more selfish or I just don’t have the Eric: “I’m either more selfish or I just don’t have the

patience.” D needs to nurture; Eric more ambitious. patience.” D needs to nurture; Eric more ambitious.

Ethan and Peg:Ethan and Peg: Ethan: “I don’t have the opportunity or the desire… If Ethan: “I don’t have the opportunity or the desire… If

I come home from work at six-thirty, seven, I’m tired, I come home from work at six-thirty, seven, I’m tired, basically fatigued.”basically fatigued.”

Peg: “Sometimes I feel like I have no time for myself Peg: “Sometimes I feel like I have no time for myself ever… There are days when I feel like I’m just going ever… There are days when I feel like I’m just going crazy.”crazy.”

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Creating Inequality at homeCreating Inequality at home

Family myths?Family myths? Denise promotes the myth that Eric is the Denise promotes the myth that Eric is the

one with ambition (although she’s the one one with ambition (although she’s the one who went to graduate school)who went to graduate school)

Hochschild and symbolic interaction. The Hochschild and symbolic interaction. The need to justify inequality if you’re going to need to justify inequality if you’re going to accept it. accept it.

Deutsch:Deutsch: ““Notably absent from any of these Notably absent from any of these

explanations… is any mention of male power explanations… is any mention of male power in resisting the work at home.”in resisting the work at home.”

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Fighting for equalityFighting for equality

Dorothy: “I actually went on strike a Dorothy: “I actually went on strike a few times.”few times.”

Roberta: “That is when we entered Roberta: “That is when we entered into our hard negotiations… I think I into our hard negotiations… I think I sort of learned to talk back—to sort sort of learned to talk back—to sort of stand up for myself.” of stand up for myself.”

Rita: “Of course we are always Rita: “Of course we are always arguing about which way it’s tilted.” arguing about which way it’s tilted.”

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Fighting against equalityFighting against equality

A husband: “She probably won’t sit A husband: “She probably won’t sit still on a Sunday… She’s not happy still on a Sunday… She’s not happy unless she’s doing something. I’m unless she’s doing something. I’m different. I can relax.” different. I can relax.”

““Carol works 52 hours a week and also does Carol works 52 hours a week and also does virtually all the housework. When I asked virtually all the housework. When I asked how her husband responded to her desire how her husband responded to her desire for him to do more he said: “I just chuckle.”for him to do more he said: “I just chuckle.”

……she seems resigned, perhaps because his she seems resigned, perhaps because his behavior seems so normal…. “I see it in a lot behavior seems so normal…. “I see it in a lot of the guys.” of the guys.”

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Conflict theoryConflict theory

Power and social movements: Power and social movements: feminism as a “stalled feminism as a “stalled revolution”(Hochschild)revolution”(Hochschild)

Emerson: power/dependence theory: Emerson: power/dependence theory: power in relationships based on power in relationships based on perceived needs and alternativesperceived needs and alternatives

, , Second ShiftSecond Shift, Peter and Nina: “the , Peter and Nina: “the economy of gratitude”economy of gratitude”

““I just kind of do it. He helps much more I just kind of do it. He helps much more than a lot of fathers help.” than a lot of fathers help.”

Sociology 1201Sociology 1201

Strategies of Resistance to Strategies of Resistance to equalityequality

““The raw spoken claim of male privilege The raw spoken claim of male privilege seems to have become taboo.” Instead seems to have become taboo.” Instead Deutsch finds: Deutsch finds:

No initiativeNo initiative: “I’ll do anything you want… : “I’ll do anything you want… just tell me what.”just tell me what.”– ““I have to direct him and it’s just easier for me I have to direct him and it’s just easier for me

to do it.” to do it.” Passive resistancePassive resistance: “the kids could be : “the kids could be

yelling and screaming. He’s just oblivious.”yelling and screaming. He’s just oblivious.”

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Strategies IIStrategies II

Incompetence: Incompetence: “I wasn’t as good as “I wasn’t as good as Roz. Roz’s just good.” Many of the Roz. Roz’s just good.” Many of the women learn these skills after they women learn these skills after they are married and the men could too. are married and the men could too.

Praise: “Praise: “She’s wonderful as a She’s wonderful as a mother.mother. I feel lucky to have her as a I feel lucky to have her as a partner because it takes a lot of the partner because it takes a lot of the burden off me.”burden off me.”

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Strategies IIIStrategies III Different standardsDifferent standards: Women often care : Women often care

more about keeping the house neat. Why?more about keeping the house neat. Why?This probably needs to be compromised. This probably needs to be compromised. But what about children’s needs? But what about children’s needs?

Denial: Denial: the husband who says he does the husband who says he does 35% (she says 25%) and thinks he’s great, 35% (she says 25%) and thinks he’s great, probably compared to his fatherprobably compared to his father

Deutsch: “Deutsch: “The myth implicitly promulgated The myth implicitly promulgated by these men is that their wives do the by these men is that their wives do the work at home… because they notice it, work at home… because they notice it, they’re better at it, and they enjoy it more.” they’re better at it, and they enjoy it more.”

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Symbolic InteractionSymbolic Interaction

The larger culture’s assumptions about The larger culture’s assumptions about women who work too much and men who women who work too much and men who share equally. Coworkers, bosses, mothers-share equally. Coworkers, bosses, mothers-in-lawin-law

Creating a new social worldCreating a new social world– ¾ of the equally sharing fathers know someone ¾ of the equally sharing fathers know someone

else doing the sameelse doing the same– Only 18% of the 25-75 fathers know an equal Only 18% of the 25-75 fathers know an equal

sharersharer– ““Equal sharers… actively work to create this Equal sharers… actively work to create this

alternative world.” alternative world.”

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Why Couples Don’t Practice Why Couples Don’t Practice What They PreachWhat They Preach

““Gender equality often just doesn’t Gender equality often just doesn’t feel right?” “Intellectually I believe feel right?” “Intellectually I believe all the right things. I don’t always all the right things. I don’t always feel them correctly?” Why?feel them correctly?” Why?– Deep-rooted cultural images about Deep-rooted cultural images about

women and children, men and women and children, men and workwork

– Implicit messages from coworkers, Implicit messages from coworkers, parents, peersparents, peers

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Women and MotheringWomen and Mothering

One mother discovered a “very strong One mother discovered a “very strong gut feeling of wanting to be part of her gut feeling of wanting to be part of her children’s lives in a major way.” Another children’s lives in a major way.” Another woman said of her infant daughter: “I woman said of her infant daughter: “I want to be with her every minute.”want to be with her every minute.”

““Yet for every unequal mother who told Yet for every unequal mother who told me she found infant care immensely me she found infant care immensely satisfying, I found many more who were satisfying, I found many more who were desperately unhappy during the years desperately unhappy during the years they spent at home without paid work.”they spent at home without paid work.”

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Men and workMen and work

– ““Jobs were often seen as a given, Jobs were often seen as a given, nonnegotiable part of men’s identities.”nonnegotiable part of men’s identities.”

– Many occupations have some room for Many occupations have some room for limiting hours, but almost always at a limiting hours, but almost always at a cost in terms of advancementcost in terms of advancement

– Deutsch: “Male investment and female Deutsch: “Male investment and female disinvestment in jobs fuels the disinvestment in jobs fuels the inequality in parenting.” inequality in parenting.”

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Switching places??Switching places??

– D: “Two other mothers I interviewed, D: “Two other mothers I interviewed, happily working part-time, saw happily working part-time, saw themselves as relatively advantaged themselves as relatively advantaged compared to their husbands… Both compared to their husbands… Both women claimed their husbands would women claimed their husbands would love to change places with them.”love to change places with them.”

– ““Despite these mothers’ claims, their Despite these mothers’ claims, their husbands weren’t the least bit husbands weren’t the least bit interested in changing roles.” interested in changing roles.”

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Functionalism Functionalism

Institutions are interdependentInstitutions are interdependentTrends in the economyTrends in the economy

Deindustrialization, globalization, and wagesDeindustrialization, globalization, and wagesNOW, Oct. 24, 2004: In 48 of 50 statesNOW, Oct. 24, 2004: In 48 of 50 statesindustries adding jobs paying less than industries adding jobs paying less than industries losing jobs (30% less in Minnesota)industries losing jobs (30% less in Minnesota)

Female work force participationFemale work force participation Chart 1. Married women, by age of childChart 1. Married women, by age of child Chart 2: By age, 1970 and 1990Chart 2: By age, 1970 and 1990

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Hochschild, Hochschild, The Time BindThe Time Bind

Field study of a large industrial corporation Field study of a large industrial corporation in Milwaukee: Employee Survey results: in Milwaukee: Employee Survey results:

““It is hard for me to manage my work and It is hard for me to manage my work and family/personal responsiblities” 75% of family/personal responsiblities” 75% of women, 50% of menwomen, 50% of men

““My health suffers as a result of meeting My health suffers as a result of meeting both my work and family responsibilies” both my work and family responsibilies” 60% of women, 50% of men60% of women, 50% of men

By 1990, 84% of its employees with children By 1990, 84% of its employees with children under 13 had no stay-at-home spouseunder 13 had no stay-at-home spouse

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ParadoxParadox

““Amerco’s” workers consistently Amerco’s” workers consistently reported being strained to the limit.reported being strained to the limit.

The company offered policies that The company offered policies that would allow them to cut back.would allow them to cut back.

Almost no one took the policies; in Almost no one took the policies; in fact, most people she talked to fact, most people she talked to seemed to be increasing their hours!seemed to be increasing their hours!

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Top ManagersTop Managers

Hochschild: “The twelve top managers I Hochschild: “The twelve top managers I interviewed all worked between 50 and 70 hours a interviewed all worked between 50 and 70 hours a week.” week.”

About their parenting: “If you had it to do over About their parenting: “If you had it to do over again, would you do anything differently?” “I don’t again, would you do anything differently?” “I don’t know. I can’t answer that. Probably not.” know. I can’t answer that. Probably not.”

What about women managers who have children? What about women managers who have children? “I don’t know how they do it.”“I don’t know how they do it.”

““Just because a few women are concerned with Just because a few women are concerned with balance doesn’t mean we change the rules. If they balance doesn’t mean we change the rules. If they chose this career, they’re going to have to pay for chose this career, they’re going to have to pay for it in hoursit in hours

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Equality WorksEquality Works

Deutsch: “Equality is good for children. It Deutsch: “Equality is good for children. It is simply easier for two devoted parents to is simply easier for two devoted parents to meet children’s needs…”meet children’s needs…”

““Equal sharing can strengthen a marriage Equal sharing can strengthen a marriage because family work, when shared, because family work, when shared, becomes a bond rather than a barrier to becomes a bond rather than a barrier to intimacy.” intimacy.”

Hochschild, Hochschild, TheThe Second Shift: Second Shift: Regardless Regardless of their reasons for doing it, the couples in of their reasons for doing it, the couples in her study who shared the second shift her study who shared the second shift were the happiest in their marriages. were the happiest in their marriages.

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What needs to change to make What needs to change to make equal sharing more possible?equal sharing more possible?

““Conventional careers demand the Conventional careers demand the willingness to put in long working willingness to put in long working hours, to relocate for good job hours, to relocate for good job opportunities, to shield work from opportunities, to shield work from personal responsibilities, and to give personal responsibilities, and to give work priority over family. Career work priority over family. Career building at its most intense occurs building at its most intense occurs during the childbearing years.” during the childbearing years.”

You’ll have to accept it that you’ll You’ll have to accept it that you’ll accomplish less in the world of work. accomplish less in the world of work.

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De-gendering parenthoodDe-gendering parenthood

Deutsch: “Perhaps the thorniest Deutsch: “Perhaps the thorniest issue in inventing truly genderless issue in inventing truly genderless parenting is how we can reconstruct parenting is how we can reconstruct the meaning of motherhood. I the meaning of motherhood. I wonder how most mothers would feel wonder how most mothers would feel if their identity was simply expressed if their identity was simply expressed by the word ‘parent’ instead of by the word ‘parent’ instead of ‘mother.’”‘mother.’”

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Functionalism again Functionalism again

Is it an accident that work seems to Is it an accident that work seems to increasingly take precedence over family, increasingly take precedence over family, in a society that is globalized and must in a society that is globalized and must compete with countries around the globe?compete with countries around the globe?

What would be the costs of de-What would be the costs of de-emphasizing work and career, not for emphasizing work and career, not for individuals but for the society? individuals but for the society?

Is it a given that whatever creates the Is it a given that whatever creates the most powerful economy (and society) is most powerful economy (and society) is also best for the individuals in that also best for the individuals in that society? society?

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Final words from changing Final words from changing parentsparents

– A mother: “I think a child can have two A mother: “I think a child can have two number ones, I really do… I am not number ones, I really do… I am not afraid of losing my role.”afraid of losing my role.”

– ““When I asked Barry if he thought his When I asked Barry if he thought his child had two mothers or two fathers, he child had two mothers or two fathers, he was surprised by his own answer. ‘Boy, was surprised by his own answer. ‘Boy, that’s a great question and as much as that’s a great question and as much as it’s an affront to my masculinity, I think it’s an affront to my masculinity, I think it’s more like two mothers. Yeah I really it’s more like two mothers. Yeah I really do.”do.”