Women's work?
October 15, 2007 | 05:19 PM
We've all heard the phrase at some point in our lives—well, certainly those of us who are beginning to embrace middle age have! Women's work: the traditional work women do, the three Cs – cooking, cleaning, caring.*
My teenaged son came in from outside one day and when I asked him to assist me with a task in the kitchen (I don't recall what specific task it was) he said, “Ah, Mom, that's women's work.”
Fortunately, his tone indicated he may have been trying to joke, but being that I had had a full afternoon of “women's work” I couldn't let the opportunity to educate him pass me by.
Women's work is pretty much ignored by those in power. Long-standing, sexist definitions of work help to keep it so. When our current monetary system developed women were considered chattel, the property of men. The work women performed as they prepared meals, cleaned homes, and raised children was not paid work and so it was excluded from the economic records. As the economic system continued to develop, women's work continued to be ignored. When women finally made their way into the workforce, they were paid significantly less than men for the simple fact that they were women. They were not deemed worthy of a “man's wage.” It has only been within the past 50 years or so that this has begun to change. Societal attitudes and institutional mechanisms move much more slowly than molasses in January!
It's almost as if the work women do to keep families healthy and functional, to move the economy through its cycles, and to make the world a somewhat caring and nurturing place really doesn't matter. Few see the value that women's traditional contributes to our society, to our economy. What would happen if hockey moms stopped driving to games and practises, if the ladies' auxiliaries stopped volunteering at the fowl suppers and luncheons or if women stopped doing all housework? Even just for a day? It'd be interesting, for sure!
It's interesting that the corporate sector matters more to governments than real live human beings do. The corporate sector has not been good to women. In fact, its lobbyists fought against Canada Pension, Employment Insurance, and paid maternity leaves. It constantly lobbies for the privatization of services, for additional tax breaks, for an end to social policies and programs – the same ones that actually assist women. Look at the recent hullaballoo over increasing minimum wage, for example. That one little change is going to assist a number of women and their families in very real ways. If a business can't afford to pay that pittance – and c'mon, nine bucks an hour really is a pittance – then maybe that business shouldn't be in business.
When things are “left to the private sector” many services disappear. It's not that the need has vanished; it's just that it's not profitable for the private sector. And we all know that the private sector is all about the bottom line. But the need still exists and responsibility trickles down to communities and families to provide the service. And who is it in the communities and families that usually picks it up? You got it! It's the women who pick up the work. And they do it as volunteers!
Statistics Canada suggests that somewhere from $234 to $374 billion worth of unpaid work is performed by women each year. However, the data does not include women's volunteer work within their communities. Now, I'm no economist, so I wonder what those numbers would do to the GDP of this country.
And why does any of this matter in this election, anyway?
It matters because we live in relatively prosperous times. But that prosperity is built on the backs of women. Is this really how we want the future of our province, of our daughters and sons to be secured? Will the work that women do continue to be systematically ignored so that businesses can continue to profit?
When politicans comes a-calling, quiz them on how their platform will assist women.
* For a more expansive discussion of this issue, visit the Global Women's Strike.
Comments: (6)
Interesting and accurate comments; it has always irked me that Stats Can does not consider work inside the home when compiling statistics. Work inside the home is one of the most important ways a person can contribute to the family and to society. What the parent teaches, influences the child for his/her lifetime. That work/influence is grossly undervalued.
And women in the paid workforce ...... again,their labour is grossly undervalued. Why is it that traditional women's occupations (secretarial, waitress, etc) generally earn less than traditional men's occupations such as welding, mechanics, etc? We all shop at the same grocery stores, have the same basic needs.
I agree with "student"...and I did involve my sons in daily household chores. And now they cook and clean and do laundry as a matter of course...... as well they should. It is heartwarming to arrive at their place to see them doing "women's work" only I doubt they have ever viewed it as such.
I remain hopeful that one day, all work will be considered of equal value.
Posted October 21, 2007 10:41 PM
When we ask politicians what they're going to do for women, we are asking what they're going to do for families. Women who can get a fair wage for the work they do have more options, and can make better choices for their families. If we raised minimum wage to a livable wage, women (who make up most of those minimum wage workers) could feed and clothe their families better. They could even work fewer hours, so they could be at home more! Women in abusive relationships would be better able to flee and protect their children. Families without male adults (single moms or lesbian moms) would have just as fair a chance as those with a male adult. As long as we value women less economically, there will be financial pressure for women to stay with men - and that might not always be the right choice for their families.
Posted October 21, 2007 10:32 PM
While you admit that you don't know what the point is, I think it should be clarified that the writer is not saying that "the grass is greener" for men. She is merely outlining the ways in which modern women have inherited the capitalist legacy of the nuclear family unit. Most women are no longer required to stay at home and perform the unpaid labour of household chores. We now have the freedom to perform a double-duty: underpaid labour in the work force (which has been statistically proven again and again), and unpaid labour in the home. The point is not that men do not work around the house, of course they do. The point is that culturally it is seen as a bonus when men do what is termed "women's work". We need to work to change this--together. I agree very much with your family focus. I would suggest that the best way to gradually change the way labour inside the house is distributed, is to ask your sons to wash the dishes, clean the toilets, scrub the tubs, fold the laundry, clean the fridge, vacuum, etc, so when they grow up they will automatically participate in these chores without thinking they are doing someone a favour.
Posted October 20, 2007 01:48 PM
Well today after getting the car fixed - yeah, women do that too, I rushed home to walk the dog before everyone got home for supper (which I made too).
It's not just about the work we do -- it's the value society gives us for doing that work and believe me the mechanics were all men - certainly making better money than the women in the office and quite frankly they weren't taking the shit from the customers either. It's not that being a stay at home mom or dad (in 20% of the cases according to Stats Can) is bad, it's that society doesn't value it. So while you can talk about a family approach until work in the home is valued as well as work (note all of them are work) "at the office" (or wherever), it remains an issue that discriminates unequally against women HENCE THE FAMILY APPROACH IS A PERPETUATES INEQUALITY!
Posted October 19, 2007 11:52 PM
Well, Soccer Dad, the numbers say that women perform more than one hour per day more of unpaid work than their male counterparts. So maybe the next time you're sitting and relaxing because you work so hard, get up and ask the women in your life how you can help out. Or, maybe you'd like to tell StatsCan they've got the numbers wrong... 8-)
Posted October 19, 2007 11:18 PM
I don't understand what your point is. If you think the grass is any greener for a man, you are sadly mistaken. Women and men contribute to family and society in their own way. If you want to be fair, get in the garage change the oil and rotate the tires - knock yourself out. As I recall the last time I performed such "mens work" I didn't complain that I didn't get paid for it. The only way both genders will be happy is to stop asking what our family can do for us and focus on what can we do for our family. Don't think for a moment that the average man today wouldn't jump at the chance to stay home with his kids, work part time and have the time to volunteer. Be careful what you ask for because there is a damn good reason why women live longer than men.
So when politicians come a-calling don't quiz them on what they are going to do to assist women, ask them what they are going to do to assist families.
Posted October 17, 2007 09:05 PM