The Debate over Paid Housework.

THE FIRST WAVE

The first wave of the feminist movement The first wave of the feminist movement is usually tied to the first formal Women’s Rights Convention that was held in 1848.

The role of women’s work concerning the ideas and beliefs about gender and male supremacy have been termed liberal, radical, and Marxist,but are not applied appropriately to the previous feminists of the first wave women’s movement, present-day “deconstructionist, post-constructionists, or post-colonialist perspectives” (Ferguson, Hennessy, 3).

Work and class were very important concerns in the women’s liberation movement. Many feminists were guided by Darwinism and modern ideas. Debates arose because class politics were changing (Ferguson, Hennessy, 3). In the second wave movement, liberal feminists asserted that unpaid housework devalues women because it is not considered to be economic production, and it makes women dependent on men.

Marxist feminists believed that it was capitalistic, exploited women’s unpaid labor, and gave men power over women’s work (Ferguson, Hennessy, 4).

Federici believed that the developing capitalist class wanted to control women’s biological reproduction to ensure that women would be kept in the domestic realm, so they would continue to do their unpaid housework (Ferguson, Hennessy, 4).

DISCRIMINATION

Men were defined as breadwinners and leaders outside of the home, in business, and politics, while women were defined by rolls of housewives, and mothers with no economic significance.

But in truth, many women had to also work outside of the home. In comparison with men, women were seen as incompetent employees.

U.S. society embraced discrimination against women, and made it look natural, and normal. Television programs naturalized stereotypes of the typical American family where the woman stays at home with her children, and the man goes to work.

In addition, magazine articles warned women that if they were to earn a college degree, it may be harder for them to find a husband; as if getting a husband should be the most important goal in a woman’s life (Mascia-Lees, 36).

THE SECOND WAVE

The second wave of the women’s movement that concerned women’s liberation, “was the largest social movement in the history of the United states” (Mascia-Lees, 40).

When women tried to become equal to men in the work place, and lift the “glass ceiling” that limited women’s wages, they were seen as manipulating complainers, man haters, and were accused of overreacting to minor injustices.

In spite of men’s negative claims about women, feminists still fought politically for their rights (Mascia-Lees, 40).

Both the first and second wave of the women’s movement were concerned with the oppression of women and defining “the economic and social function of housework” (Ferguson, Hennessy).

Besides women’s reproductive functions, women were over-burdened with unpaid housework, childcare, and added waged work that was done outside of the home.

HOUSEWORK DEBATE

The housework debate entails questions on what is considered work or play in child rearing. If it is considered work, then one must consider the woman’s hours of work compared to the hours of her husband’s or partner’s work outside of the home.

Even if an activity with a child is considered play, if it is necessary for the child’s psychological growth; it still counts as work.

One way to approach the difficult task of separating work from non-work would be to take each job that a woman does, and compare it to paid work outside of the home; such as babysitters, cooks, maids, etc. and draw conclusions from the wages a women would earn if in the public sector.

In contrast, some thought that paid housework should not even be considered, while others said the person doing the work should make the decision.

Nevertheless, the second wave women’s movement insisted that most women consider these tasks work (Ferguson, Hennessy, 4).

Women will probably never be paid for their housework and cooking in their own home, or raising their own children. If they were paid for house duties, I am not sure where the money would come from.

If women’s wages for housework came out of their husband’s paycheck, she would most likely have to give it back to him anyway, to pay bills.

The only benefit to this situation is that she would be recognized for making an economic contribution to her family.

If women were paid by the government for housework, then their work would be regarded as a ligament job, and it would be considered proof of their economic involvement.

Nevertheless, regardless of where the money came from, men would probably proclaim that women were receiving charity donations.

CHOICES

It should be each woman’s choice whether she works outside of the home or not, and not her husband’s choice.

Women should have the same opportunities as men. They deserve to be recognized for their contributions to society, and the economy.

Women are not only invisible workers outside of the home, but are invisible workers inside of the home as well because no one really notices all the things that women do in the home.

It will always be a challenge for women to achieve their equality inside, and outside of the home, but they will continue to make progress.

Works Cited.

Ferguson, Ann and Hennessy, Rosemary, “Feminist Perspectives on Class and Work”, California: Stanford University, 2010, Web.

Mascia-Lees, Frances E. “Gender & Difference”, Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc., 2010, print.

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