Domestic Division of Labor

Generally, there is an unequal distribution of domestic labor in households. I find this topic very interesting because I think it something that I (and probably many others) have taken for granted growing up. I always counted on my mom to make dinner, clean, buy presents, make my health appointments, do laundry, go grocery shopping, listen to me talk and engage in meaningful conversation, take me school shopping, etc. etc. etc. (!) I also expected my dad to mow the lawn, kill spiders, pay the bills, (and give in to some ridiculous request when mom had said, "No.") Ms. Lerner makes a very interesting point when she brings up the time frame of tasks. For example, most mothers cook for the family, but there is a time constraint to this. In fact, I know of many families in which the father expects dinner to be ready and waiting when he arrives home from work in the evening. However, men generally have more freedom in their tasks, such as mowing the lawn, and even paying the bills has more flexibility than cooking. The division in the type of tasks is also interesting. Mothers tend to perform creative tasks like cooking, sending holiday cards, and volunteering at school events, as well as many detail-oriented tasks like scheduling doctor appointments and buying presents. Some of these tasks may seem simple or easy, but they require attention and thought. On the contrary, fathers tend to take care of the physical tasks and finances, which corresponds with the belief that men are stronger, more engaged in fixing/completing a task, and mathematically oriented.

I was not surprised by the outcome of my Family Duties chart. As a child, I knew my mother did a lot, and my father mostly took care of finances and grooming the lawn. Thankfully, I believe the division of labor in my family has evened out as my father, brother, and I have gained responsibility and awareness.

It is interesting how expectations differ, however. For example, while I am living at home this year, I essentially operate on my own basis. I grocery shop, cook, and clean for myself. However, when my brother comes home to visit, even though he is older than me, he still expects my mother to have food in the house for him and cook for him. Where did these innate expectations stem from?
I suppose, as Functionalism theorists suggest, that the family fulfills specific needs, and this division of labor ensures smooth operation. However, I think that since everyone eats, everyone should be responsible for their own food. Granted, not children, but once a person is an adult, there isn't any reason why they should be dependent on someone providing food for them. If you can bathe yourself and everything else, then why do you need someone to cook for you? Pardon me while I get off my soapbox...

I think the Feminist approach provides an interesting perspective in examining why these social and structural expectations exist. The Feminist approach also examines the "captive wife" and the effects of "suffocating" family settings, incorporating three key elements: the domestic division of labor, unequal power relationship, and caring activities, which seek to explain the structural phenomena that many families operate upon, seemingly automatically. Most importantly, the theory sheds light on the question of the domestic division of labor emerging from industrialism or patriarchy and how women tend to participate in caring activities, especially because they are emotionally sensitive.

It is thought provoking to consider how this division of domestic labor has originated, why it continues to perpetuate, yet how it may be evolving. I think the evolution of this division is primarily dependent upon the expectations of the man and women involved together, as well as how they decide to raise their children, if they have any.