3
Reading Response 1
Qianchi Chen
Work is a responsibility for every human being. It works in satisfaction of human life, and therefore every individual is supposed to work. Work is, however, divided into categories based on the nature of work and the social group that is supposed to do it. Work is labor, and labor has divisions. They have been claims and complaints that division of labor based on gender is oppressing women. In this week’s readings, the authors analyze the relationship between work and women and their effects.
Feminists have coined the term reproductive labor to mean all the activities that women carry out—the term women as the engines of the family as they perform the essential chores (Glenn, 1992). Laundry and cooking are examples mentioned and explained as taking care of all family members. It is true to associate women with home developments because husbands cannot go to their daily commercial jobs without their efforts in reproductive labor, and children cannot eat and dress accordingly. The jobs are pivotal to the industrial economy, according to the Marxist feminist. They argue that the jobs are not performed proportionally, and this leads to women’s oppression. Somehow somewhat, their claims are true because much of the fruits of the labor are enjoyed by men. Women perform the duties without expecting payment as they believe that the chores are dictated by nature and culture, but atleast they should be recognized. Even if they were not fully paid for them, atleast some tokens would do. Men benefit both directly and indirectly from the labor provided by women (Glenn, 1992). The direct benefit is that they are exempted from daily home labor, and indirectly, they get free time to go and carry out commercial jobs and businesses. Equality policy that is almost recognized internationally advocates for equal opportunities for all, meaning even the home labor should be divided equally so that both parties can enjoy equal opportunities.
It is argued that whenever women are commercially employed, they are underpaid. In American job markets, 30% of women in full-time jobs work in only ten different occupations, which should not be the case (Ford, 2016). Jobs should be accorded depending on the qualifications and passions of individuals. Women should be provided with opportunities to study and acquire jobs of their choice. Research has shown that whenever women handle jobs willingly, they provide amazing results. Therefore, they should be trusted with even bigger jobs as long as they don’t forget their natural responsibilities. Women are portrayed in popstar appearance rather than substance and skills. They are used in film and fashion industries, mostly run and managed by men who reap the highest profits. Popstar appearance is important because it is part of commercial work, but it should be done voluntarily by whichever gender.
According to Sherman & Raxlen (2020), Women’s occupations are taking another angle in the current world as many women are getting involved in commercial jobs. This has however come with adverse effects as conflicts at homes are increasing due to delayed responsibilities. Should should be the expected outcome because even if women should be allowed to work, it should be remembered that family responsibilities must be delayed by default. For peace and smoothness of issues in every field, one party must be oppressed.
Massoni (2004) has stated that according to his research, men control the work market. Men hold every decision that goes around jobs. That is true, and changing the fact will take time. Nature dictates that the party must be on top. It is, therefore, either men or women. However, work should be divided accordingly without discrimination and oppression. All are entitled to responsible working.
References
Dos Santos Raxlen, J., & Sherman, R. (2020). Labor, Lifestyle, and the “Ladies Who Lunch”: Work and Worth Among Elite STAY-AT-HOME Mothers. In Professional Work: Knowledge, Power, and Social Inequalities. Emerald Publishing Limited.
Ford, M. C. (2016). Fuchsia. World Literature Today, 90(6), 87.
Glenn, E. N. (1992). From servitude to service work: Historical continuities in the racial division of paid reproductive labor. Signs: Journal of women in culture and society, 18(1), 1-43.
Massoni, K. (2004). Modeling work: Occupational messages in Seventeen magazine. Gender & Society, 18(1), 47-65.
The post 3 Reading Response 1 Qianchi Chen Work is a responsibility for every appeared first on PapersSpot.
