Blog Assignment #6

1. According to Oriel Sullivan, who is still primarily responsible for family work and what was the primary argument of research over the past twenty years that led to this conclusion?

Women still continue to do more family work than their male partners. But, the total amount of work contributed by men and women in two parent dual earner families (including paid work as well as unpaid family work) is now identical.

2. Sullivan, however, argues that although slow, change has occurred in men's contributions to housework and childcare.

Give an example he uses to show change in gender ideology (beliefs about gender roles).

An example that Sullivan uses is with national opinion polls. The belief in gender equality within families continues to gain acceptance between both men and women. 62% of participants said sharing household tasks is very important for a successful marriage. This statistic has grown significantly.

3. What is his main argument for why research has not recognized change in men's contributions?

He says that research has not been recognized because the change has not been meaningful, or seem like it was wanted by men. He also claims that since it has not been revolutionary and it was a slow change, it has not been noticed.

4. In your own words describe one example of the "quantitative evidence" for change either from the U.S. or international studies.

One example is full time employed American married men with children increased their contribution to child care by four hours a week since 1970 and his contribution to other family work by 2 hours a week. In total, he does 6 hours a week of childcare and 10 hours a week of other family work. On the other hand, a full time or part time employed American married woman with children is employed for fewer hours per week on average than her spouse, but she does eleven hours of other family work. 

5. Was this reading surprising to you and why? Do you think men are contributing more than in the past? How do you imagine you will divide family work (including child care) in your own marriage or cohabitation

Overall, this was surprising to me. After reading this, I realized that men are contributing more but I had to read a textbook to realize it. I work at a daycare and for the first time, we have a male employee who is a young, heterosexual, who just thoroughly enjoys spending time with children. Back in the 1900s, parents would never send their children to a daycare that had a male teacher. Plus, I also noticed that more fathers than mothers take their children to daycare because the mother is already working so the father has to take control. I will divide family work evenly, hopefully, with my husband. We will split things evenly.

6. Using what you have learned throughout this class about increasing numbers of women working for pay, increased divorce, higher age at marriage, how might these demographic changes influence women's role in housework. In other words, based on other demographic changes -- how and why do you expect change in the division of household labor by gender. And why SOCIOLOGICALLY might it not change as much as you might expect? Give this some deep thought before writing.

I think eventually women are going to feel how men used to do back in the day. Men felt "entitled" to not have to do anything in the house because they were the breadwinners and because they were men. I think women are finally starting to get the mentality that women are just as important, if not more important, than men. Division of labor will most likely become difficult to divide because no one is going to feel like they are supposed to do it and that the other spouse should.