Sociology 1201 Soc 1201: Week Nine Groups: “Marriage Contract” Groups: “Marriage...

Sociology 1201Sociology 1201

Soc 1201: Week NineSoc 1201: Week Nine

Groups: “Groups: “Marriage ContractMarriage Contract” ” The Division of Labor by SexThe Division of Labor by SexDiscussion questions, chapters 8&9, Discussion questions, chapters 8&9,

LareauLareauEstablishing causality in SociologyEstablishing causality in Sociology

Testing LareauTesting LareauVideo: “Video: “Daddy and PapaDaddy and Papa” ”


How do American parents divide How do American parents divide the work of parenting? the work of parenting?

Many studies documenting that women, in Many studies documenting that women, in the U.S. and in the world, do more than the U.S. and in the world, do more than half of the parenting, even if: half of the parenting, even if: They say they believe in equal sharingThey say they believe in equal sharing

E.g. Hochschild, E.g. Hochschild, Second ShiftSecond ShiftThey work comparable hoursThey work comparable hoursThey make comparable incomesThey make comparable incomesWHY IS THIS THE CASE? HOW DID YOU WHY IS THIS THE CASE? HOW DID YOU

PICTURE THIS IN YOUR MARRIAGE PICTURE THIS IN YOUR MARRIAGE CONTRACT EXERCISE? CONTRACT EXERCISE?


My partner and IMy partner and I

Feminist movement and our Intention to Feminist movement and our Intention to share equallyshare equally

First year after son’s birth: sharing the First year after son’s birth: sharing the exhaustion, celebrating exhaustion, celebrating

Second year and move to Duluth:Second year and move to Duluth:Dad teaching and Mom in nursing school Dad teaching and Mom in nursing school ““Momdad”Momdad”

Third year: the end of all our good Third year: the end of all our good intentions. Why?intentions. Why?


Halving it All: Francine DeutschHalving it All: Francine Deutsch

Research method: Convenience sample of Research method: Convenience sample of 429 couples, each partner working at 429 couples, each partner working at least 20 hrs a week and with at least one least 20 hrs a week and with at least one child under 18child under 18

96% white96% whiteReligiously diverseReligiously diverseAveraged 2 childrenAveraged 2 childrenAverage age of children: 5 and 8Average age of children: 5 and 8Over-represent upper middle class Over-represent upper middle class


Initial telephone interviewsInitial telephone interviews

Initial interview of 15 minutes with each Initial interview of 15 minutes with each partner(separately), mostly by phonepartner(separately), mostly by phone

Key question: “Considering everything that Key question: “Considering everything that goes into parenting in a typical week, what goes into parenting in a typical week, what % do you do and what % does your % do you do and what % does your spouse do.”spouse do.”


Face-to-face interviewsFace-to-face interviews

Long face-to-face interviews(1-4 hours, Long face-to-face interviews(1-4 hours, avg 2 hrs) with 30 couples in each of five avg 2 hrs) with 30 couples in each of five groupsgroups1. Equal sharers, where both agreed1. Equal sharers, where both agreed2. Potential equal sharers (at least one spouse 2. Potential equal sharers (at least one spouse

reported husband doing 50%+)reported husband doing 50%+)3. 60-40 couples3. 60-40 couples4. 75-25 couples4. 75-25 couples5. Alternating shift couples5. Alternating shift couples


Creating Equality at HomeCreating Equality at Home

Many of the equal sharers did not begin Many of the equal sharers did not begin equal; even if they did, making a success equal; even if they did, making a success of it required conflict and compromise. of it required conflict and compromise.

Must negotiate standards for what Must negotiate standards for what Hochschild calls “the second shift.” What Hochschild calls “the second shift.” What constitutes good housekeeping, good constitutes good housekeeping, good meals, and most of all, good childcare. meals, and most of all, good childcare.


Fighting for equalityFighting for equality

Dorothy: “I actually went on strike a few Dorothy: “I actually went on strike a few times.”times.”

Roberta: “That is when we entered into our Roberta: “That is when we entered into our hard negotiations… I think I sort of learned hard negotiations… I think I sort of learned to talk back—to sort of stand up for to talk back—to sort of stand up for myself.” myself.”

Rita: “Of course we are always arguing Rita: “Of course we are always arguing about which way it’s tilted.” about which way it’s tilted.”


Creating Inequality at homeCreating Inequality at home

Denise and EricDenise and Eric Eric: “I’m either more selfish or I just don’t have the Eric: “I’m either more selfish or I just don’t have the

patience.” D needs Denise: “I have greater needs as a patience.” D needs Denise: “I have greater needs as a nurturer.”nurturer.”

to nurture; Eric more ambitious. to nurture; Eric more ambitious.

Ethan and Peg:Ethan and Peg: Peg: “Sometimes I feel like I have no time for myself ever… Peg: “Sometimes I feel like I have no time for myself ever…

There are days when I feel like I’m just going crazy.”There are days when I feel like I’m just going crazy.” Ethan: “I don’t have the opportunity or the desire… If I come Ethan: “I don’t have the opportunity or the desire… If I come

home from work at six-thirty, seven, I’m tired, basically home from work at six-thirty, seven, I’m tired, basically fatigued.”fatigued.”


Fighting against equalityFighting against equality

A husband: “She probably won’t sit still on A husband: “She probably won’t sit still on a Sunday… She’s not happy unless she’s a Sunday… She’s not happy unless she’s doing something. I’m different. I can relax.” doing something. I’m different. I can relax.”

““Carol works 52 hours a week and also does Carol works 52 hours a week and also does virtually all the housework. When I asked how her virtually all the housework. When I asked how her husband responded to her desire for him to do husband responded to her desire for him to do more he said: “I just chuckle.”more he said: “I just chuckle.”

……she seems resigned, perhaps because his she seems resigned, perhaps because his behavior seems so normal…. “I see it in a lot of the behavior seems so normal…. “I see it in a lot of the guys.” guys.”


Sharers and Slackers Sharers and Slackers

Sharers: the men do more paid work but Sharers: the men do more paid work but “when they are available, they are every bit as “when they are available, they are every bit as involved as their wives.”involved as their wives.”

Slackers : “the men who relax while their Slackers : “the men who relax while their wives do the second shift”… see p. 46wives do the second shift”… see p. 46


Why might a woman accept less Why might a woman accept less than she believes is fair? than she believes is fair?

Arlie Hochschild, Arlie Hochschild, The Second ShiftThe Second Shift

The economy of gratitude: The economy of gratitude:

““I just kind of do it. He helps much more I just kind of do it. He helps much more than a lot of fathers help.” than a lot of fathers help.”

To whom do wives and husbands compare To whom do wives and husbands compare the husband’s contribution to the second the husband’s contribution to the second shift? shift?


Strategies of Resistance to equalityStrategies of Resistance to equality

““No initiativeNo initiative: “I’ll do anything you want… just tell : “I’ll do anything you want… just tell me what.”me what.”

Passive resistancePassive resistance: “the kids could be yelling : “the kids could be yelling and screaming. He’s just oblivious.”and screaming. He’s just oblivious.”

Incompetence: Incompetence: “I wasn’t as good as Roz. Roz’s “I wasn’t as good as Roz. Roz’s just good.”just good.”

Praise: “Praise: “She’s wonderful as a mother.She’s wonderful as a mother. I feel I feel lucky to have her as a partner because it takes a lucky to have her as a partner because it takes a lot of the burden off me.”lot of the burden off me.”


Symbolic interaction/conflict theorySymbolic interaction/conflict theory

Deutsch: “Deutsch: “The myth implicitly promulgated The myth implicitly promulgated by these men is that their wives do the by these men is that their wives do the work at home… because they notice it, work at home… because they notice it, they’re better at it, and they enjoy it more.” they’re better at it, and they enjoy it more.”

The larger culture’s assumptions about The larger culture’s assumptions about women who put in too many hours of paid women who put in too many hours of paid work and men who share equally at work and men who share equally at home. ( Coworkers, bosses, relatives, home. ( Coworkers, bosses, relatives, friends)friends)


Creating a new social world of Creating a new social world of sharing the second shiftsharing the second shift

¾ of the equally sharing fathers know ¾ of the equally sharing fathers know someone else doing the samesomeone else doing the same

Only 18% of the 25-75 fathers know an Only 18% of the 25-75 fathers know an equal sharerequal sharer

““Equal sharers… actively work to create this Equal sharers… actively work to create this alternative world.” alternative world.”


Cultural imagesCultural images

Mothering and self: “I want to be with her Mothering and self: “I want to be with her every minute.”every minute.”

Men and work. “You may be able to limit Men and work. “You may be able to limit work hours, but only at the cost of work hours, but only at the cost of advancement.” advancement.”

Deutsch: “Male investment and female Deutsch: “Male investment and female disinvestment in jobs fuels the inequality disinvestment in jobs fuels the inequality in parenting.” in parenting.”


Functionalism Functionalism

Institutions are interdependentInstitutions are interdependentTrends in the economyTrends in the economy

Deindustrialization, globalization, and wagesDeindustrialization, globalization, and wagesNOW, Oct. 24, 2004: In 48 of 50 statesNOW, Oct. 24, 2004: In 48 of 50 statesindustries adding jobs paying less than industries adding jobs paying less than industries losing jobs (30% less in Minnesota)industries losing jobs (30% less in Minnesota)

Female work force participationFemale work force participation Chart 1. Married women, by age of childChart 1. Married women, by age of child Chart 2: By age, 1970 and 1990Chart 2: By age, 1970 and 1990


Functionalism again Functionalism again

Is it an accident that work seems to increasingly Is it an accident that work seems to increasingly take precedence over family, in a society that is take precedence over family, in a society that is globalized and must compete with countries globalized and must compete with countries around the globe?around the globe?

What would be the costs of de-emphasizing What would be the costs of de-emphasizing work and career, not for individuals but for the work and career, not for individuals but for the society? society?

Is it a given that whatever creates the most Is it a given that whatever creates the most powerful economy (and society) is also best for powerful economy (and society) is also best for the individuals in that society? the individuals in that society?


Hochschild, Hochschild, The Time BindThe Time Bind

Field study of a large industrial corporation in Field study of a large industrial corporation in Milwaukee: Milwaukee:

Amerco’s” workers consistently reported being Amerco’s” workers consistently reported being strained to the limit.strained to the limit.

The company offered policies that would allow The company offered policies that would allow them to cut back.them to cut back.

Almost no one took the policies; in fact, most Almost no one took the policies; in fact, most people she talked to seemed to be increasing people she talked to seemed to be increasing their hours!their hours!


Top ManagersTop Managers

Hochschild: “The twelve top managers I interviewed all Hochschild: “The twelve top managers I interviewed all worked between 50 and 70 hours a week.” worked between 50 and 70 hours a week.”

About their parenting: “If you had it to do over again, About their parenting: “If you had it to do over again, would you do anything differently?” “I don’t know. I can’t would you do anything differently?” “I don’t know. I can’t answer that. Probably not.” answer that. Probably not.”

What about women managers who have children? “I What about women managers who have children? “I don’t know how they do it.”don’t know how they do it.”

““Just because a few women are concerned with balance Just because a few women are concerned with balance doesn’t mean we change the rules. If they chose this doesn’t mean we change the rules. If they chose this career, they’re going to have to pay for it in hourscareer, they’re going to have to pay for it in hours


What needs to change to make What needs to change to make equal sharing more possible?equal sharing more possible?

““Conventional careers demand the Conventional careers demand the willingness to put in long working hours, to willingness to put in long working hours, to relocate for good job opportunities, to relocate for good job opportunities, to shield work from personal responsibilities, shield work from personal responsibilities, and to give work priority over family. and to give work priority over family. Career building at its most intense occurs Career building at its most intense occurs during the childbearing years.” during the childbearing years.”

You’ll have to accept it that you’ll You’ll have to accept it that you’ll accomplish less in the world of work. accomplish less in the world of work.


Final words from changing parentsFinal words from changing parents

A mother: “I think a child can have two A mother: “I think a child can have two number ones, I really do… I am not afraid of number ones, I really do… I am not afraid of losing my role.”losing my role.”

““When I asked Barry if he thought his child When I asked Barry if he thought his child had two mothers or two fathers, he was had two mothers or two fathers, he was surprised by his own answer. ‘Boy, that’s a surprised by his own answer. ‘Boy, that’s a great question and as much as it’s an affront great question and as much as it’s an affront to my masculinity, I think it’s more like two to my masculinity, I think it’s more like two mothers. Yeah I really do.”mothers. Yeah I really do.”

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