What Is Housework and What Changes Are Occurring in This Area of Work Today free essay sample

What is ‘housework’, and what changes are occurring in this area of work today? Broadly speaking, the term ‘housework’ is used to describe the management of the home, which ‘involves a range of activities, the purpose of which is to maintain household members’ (Hatt 1997: 39). Hatt discusses how the industrial revolution and the rise of capitalism created a tidal wave of mass social change; causing production to shift from within the household to the factory. The home is now the site of the ‘reproduction’ of labour, a role which has become strongly gendered; shaped by social policies and ideologies that maintain gender roles(Malos, 1980, Cooke, 2009). There have been a lot of significant changes occurring in the area of housework since the mid 20th century following feminist challenges to the gendered division of labour and social changes that have allowed women more equal opportunities into paid work. However, despite this men have not taken on their fair share of the housework leaving the women to do a ‘second shift’ (Edmond and Fleming, 1975, Craig, 2007). We will write a custom essay sample on What Is Housework and What Changes Are Occurring in This Area of Work Today? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Today the growing answer to the double shift for many middle class families is the paid domestic worker; and as a result of the growing demand for this service, large domestic leaning companies are commoditising domestic labour. Ehrenreich and Hochschild (2003) argue that despite technological advancements and lower standards of upkeep in the home, domestic cleaning companies strive to provide hard intensive domestic labour ‘the old fashioned way’. The home has become a paid workplace where a Taylorist standardised approach to cleaning is obligatory. Low paid domestic work has long been associated with certain ethnic minorities however; globalisation is intensifying such assertions by employing workers from underdeveloped countries who are willing to accept low wage work. These migrant domestic workers are also further exploited in an emotional sense. In this essay I am going to analyse and further discuss the changes that I have highlighted above, with a lot of reference to Ehrenreich and Hochschild (2003). The gendered division of labour and the gender stereotypes in respect to housework and domestic labour that we identify with today are a product of the capitalist society that we live in. Prior to the industrial revolution the home was itself a site of production for subsistence, and men and women shared domestic labour tasks, despite the fact that they had clearly defined roles both parties still made a near equal contribution to the well-being of the family (Hatt, 1997). Small scale production was also still prevalent in most working class homes at the beginning of the industrial revolution however, as consumption and production patterns changed and capitalism absorbed society and the state, the home became a site for the ‘reproduction’ of labour power (Malos, 1980). As Meillassoux (1972) argued this was the backbone of capitalist society as men were needed for their labour power, and women were encouraged to support the existing workforce; and provide and raise the future workforce (the children); by doing unpaid work in the form of ‘housework’. Malos (1980) argued that several social policies emerged in the wake of capitalism which drove women and children out of the realm of production; and the welfare state further supported that a woman’s place was in the home. Malos also recognised how unequal pay, education and employment opportunities kept women out of the labour market. The film Far from Heaven, Haynes (2002) illustrates how ideologies of femininity, masculinity and family played a significant part in shaping gender roles in the past. The woman is expected to run every single aspect of home life from morning till night, whilst the man plays no role in unpaid housework. The film highlights how advertisements and popular culture shaped the ideal family and shows the high standard of living that was the norm in those days. It also draws on the association of low paid domestic work and race; the black maid is the silent ‘help’ in the home, she does the more labour intensive domestic tasks and supports the impression of the ideal home (Bradshaw, 2003). Feminist movement in the 1960s and 70s sparked ground-breaking changes with regard to women’s employment and other social factors associated with the traditional housewife role. Although not all of these demands were met, women were still granted significantly better opportunities allowing them to more equally enter the realm of production (Malos, 1980). Though many households today are dual earning, and men are doing 240% more housework this is only 1. 7 hours per week, whilst women are doing 7% less this is still on average 6. hours per week (Ehrenreich and Hochschild, 2003). Malos (1980) argues that the struggle with the ‘second shift’ is still very much a burden for working class women, however the global middle class women can afford to pursue their career and maintain their marital home by employing a domestic cleaner. The growing demand for domestic labour is down to many economic and demographic forces however it is also a reflection of changes in society as modern couples want to avoid ‘gender and generational conflict over domestic work’ (Anderson 2003: 106). Women also want to convey the image that they can ‘do it all’, no longer is the simple housewife role socially accepted (Ehrenreich and Hochschild, 2003). The increase in demand is also an indicator of growing inequalities in society, as Ehrenreich (2003) argues in Maid to Order that 40 percent of wealth is owned by 1 percent of households, whilst the bottom 20 percent reports negative assets. These inequalities mean that more wage workers will readily accept low paid domestic work. The growing gap between rich and poor nations is also a significant factor and the growth of globalisation means that wealthy families can afford to essentially outsource labour from less developed countries, and ‘the degradation of others is readily purchased’ (Ehrenreich 2003: 85) Far from Heaven illustrates how the use of paid domestic workers is nothing new (Haynes, 2002); however, the commodification of this service is an altogether new and significant development in the area of housework today. The new corporate-run cleaning services advertise an older model of cleaning; ‘the old fashioned way’ (Ehrenreich, 2003). Ehrenreich and Hochschild (2003) argue that these companies pride themselves on their high standards of cleanliness for the home; and they achieve this by conveying associations with the traditional idea of the ideal home and ideal housewife of the fifties, as illustrated in Far from Heaven (Haynes, 2002). These companies are so successful because of the illusion that many modern women want to preserve of being able to â€Å"do it all†; by hiring a cleaner through an agency they have no personal human contact with the workers (Ehrenreich, 2003). As Ehrenreich (2003) argues; asking an independent hired housecleaners to scrub the floor on their hands and knees would be seen as degrading and unacceptable so these companies provide the service without the hassle. These cleaning agencies also ensure that homemakers do not have to rely on only one cleaner who may have other commitments or may need time off due to illness. For the householder the home is ‘home however for the paid domestic worker the home is essentially now ‘work’ and housework is their job. Domestic cleaning companies have implemented practises to ensure rder and division of labour in a Taylorist fashion (Ehrenreich, 2003). Whilst men are doing more in terms of housework, there are many women still doing the double shift especially in working class homes. However, the middle class are hiring paid domestic workers to do it for them, the home as a workplace is not a new development but the commodification of this service has led to huge changes in the area of housework today. The taylorisation of the home is one of the most significant developments. Globalisation has also led to more migrant workers than ever and resultantly the racialization of low paid domestic work. 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