Annotated Bibliography On Housework

The article “The Approaching Obsolescence of Housework: A Working-Class Perspective” by Angela Davis addresses on the liberation of women from their socially regarded functions in society. She explores the idea of capitalist critique and feminism, and she argues that housework is annoying as much as it is disempowering women in the society and women need to be released and discharged from these duties (Angela, 2011). Angela's unique perspective on women's roles as housewives and history of house works gives us a clear perspective on the plight of women in society. The article shares a different perspective to the traditional view of women as housewives in the community. Instead of judging women on their femininity and history of their work

In today’s economy, it is a hard fact that many women will have to enter the workforce. In her article for The Atlantic, “Why Women Still Can’t have it All”, Anne-Marie Slaughter examines the difficulties faced by women who either have children or would someday like to do so. Having given up on the task of holding a high powered government position while being the mother of a teenager, her kairotic moment, the author discusses the changes that would be necessary in order for women to find a real work-life balance. Although Slaughter 's target audience is primarily women who seek high powered positions, the article contains ample information that should appeal to both men who seek to balance the needs of a growing family with their work responsibilities, as well as workplace policy makers who could help usher in the necessary changes. Her goal in sharing her experiences is to argue that women can succeed at the very top level of their organizations, “But not today, not with the way America’s economy and society are currently structured” (Slaughter).

The distinction Mainardi makes between the ‘liberated woman’ and ‘Women’s Liberation’ in “The Politics of Housework” is that the liberated woman is only liberated to the extent of male pleasure, while Women’s Liberation focuses on creating true equality between men and women. The liberated woman is a “new commodity”, and is open to new expressions of sex and housekeeping. When a man wants a liberated woman, it gives him the illusion of being aware of the oppression faced by women and wanting to fix it. It makes him feel socially intelligent and acceptable, while not thinking about the actual effects of equality. Women’s Liberation is the actual source of equality. The idea is that since both spouses have careers and lives, both should do housework, but men “do not have such conditioning”. As women had been raised their whole lives to know how to do housework, and men have not, it can be a challenge to integrate equality into our personal lives. I agree with Mainardi in that the idea of a liberated woman is different than the reality, but it is clear to me that a true liberated woman is the result of Women’s Liberation.

Taking a look into the ways of her household solidified the fact that housewives were set apart from their counterparts because of their responsibilities. Their knack for multi-tasking and running a home efficiently was never held to very high standards. Now, with a look into these three women’s homes, it seems that everyone should take with them the notion that no matter the woman’s wealth or social status, her work in the home is pivotal to the success of her family.

On the other hand, when both partners share the breadwinner role men are more likely to increase their core housework tasks in companion to men in the ‘new traditional’ and male-breadwinner families. Consequently, many studies found that gender attitudes are still primary indicators of who does housework, thus women still do two-thirds of housework where men do two-thirds of paid work. It is noticed that there have been significant changes for women over the last 6 decades to participate in the labour force, yet there was hardly any change to the division of core household work between men and women.

The American Sociological Association Code of Ethics was set as a guideline for sociologists. The code includes an Introduction, five principles, and the Specific Ethnical Standards. This code is not only used in the United States, but worldwide. They are standardized internationally to guarantee that the discipline on the whole remains as scientifically honest as possible. More importantly this code exists to prevent harm or abuse to the research subject by the scholar.

A woman has many decisions and sacrifices to make when balancing work and family. Ann-Marie Slaughter is the author of “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” where she explains what it is like to hold a higher ranking position and have children at home. She begins by building her credibility with personal facts and sources, citing other women in younger and older generations. Slaughter fills her essay with high emotion to empower women to be able to have a higher profession without giving up the time with the ones you love. She describes what it is like to lead her business life, and struggle to guide her children, when she doesn’t even have time for herself.

(TCO 1, 2, 3, 4) Identify the seven basic principles put forth in the American Sociological Association’s Code of Ethics. Choose three of these principles, and anticipate how a researcher might encounter controversy by abiding by these principles

In Judith Stadtman Tuckers “The Least Worst Choice: Why Mothers Opt out of the Work Place” Judith Stadtman Tucker looks at why hard working, intelligent woman are choosing to leave their high end jobs to stay at home with their children. Judith Stadtman Tucker expresses her option that it is nearly impossible to work 40 hours a week, be available on your off hours as well as raise children. I fully agree with Judith Stadtman Tucker’s point of view that it is absurd to have to be at the mercy of your employer even in your off hours, nor less if you are attempting to create an emotional connection and successfully raise a child. It is no question that even in today’s modern society that it is assumed that woman are the best caregivers for young children. If you are put in a position where you have a child to raise, is it more appropriate to abandon your career or to emotionally abandon your child to a stranger or strangers and allow them to raise it? Judith Stadtman Tuckers argument against mothers having to choose between the joys of parenthood and the freedom of being able to work a career really speaks to me because it makes me consider what I want for my own future and what I would choose.

Whether it is the past or the present, there have always been gender roles in society. In most homes, it is the woman’s responsibility to take care of the house. This includes cleaning, meal preparations, raising and taking care of the children as well as the husband. Compared to the men who take care of the more physical activities, such as yard work. It was known throughout many years that it was a woman’s responsibility to stay in the house while the man would go out and look for work to provide money for his family. Although the intensity of gender roles has changed, it still exists.

Before, women were considered housewives who were in charge of taking care of children and cleaning the house while their husbands worked jobs to sustain their families. As years passed, many things have changed throughout society, including the responsibilities of both men and women. Today, women work and provide for their own family as much as men do. Throughout the years, many roles have changed, but one issue remains which is that most men do not consider house cleaning as a mandatory task. Gross believes that men lack the emotional and physical drive to do a “woman’s job”. Although today more men are contributing to their home chores, there are still many men who leave this to their wives or any woman in general. Men cook and watch for their children, but they do not bother with house cleaning. Most men feel like a clean house is not needed to have a healthy, safe environment for the family, which Gross does not agree with.

With the rise of the modern age economic survival has become difficult for families based on a single income. This economic need along with modern attitudes toward gender equality has resulted in women being represented in the workforce in greater numbers. However, until the 1960’s women faced severe discrimination when trying to enter and maintain a position in the workforce. Often qualified women would be passed over for men with less experience and education. Employers were fearful that women were too emotional and were not equipped to handle the stress of the work environment. Also driving the decision to not hire or promote women was the concern over the additional health care expenses and leave time pregnant

“A man may work from dusk to dawn, but a woman`s work is never done.” Throughout the piece “Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier” by Jessica Grose, she explains why she feels American women are raised to feel as if they`re meant to be housewives and housewives only. Many young American women just like Grose grow up feeling as if “a woman’s work is never done.” Grose`s piece was published in the New Republic in 2013, Jessica argues that although men have stepped up somewhat from the Eisenhower era and started taking more care of their children but they still do not do half as much cleaning as women do. Personal accounts, facts, statistics, logos, ethos, and pathos are all writing techniques that Grose uses throughout her article to further

Women also had to live up to their family heritage and what their family’s thoughts were of a woman in the workforce. Some women felt that family issues had delayed the dawn of their careers. Barbara White, in Women’s Career Development, describes these women as late starters. Late starters are women who have been held back because of other commitments, beliefs or opinions. Some of today’s ‘profssionals’ made late commitments to their careers. Thirty-one percent decided that they would work at an early age because of family morals and traditions (White, 104).

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson is a coming of age novel recounted in the first person by one of two sisters as they grow up in a small town near a glacial lake in Fingerbone, Idaho. The novel is full of polished lyrical prose and presents a wonderful novel while describing events that shape our lives; the loss of loved ones, the importance of family, abandonment, and the impermanence of things.