Lasting gender stereotypes that evolved during periods of colonization have greatly attributed to the burden of reproductive work (family care, home care, child/elderly care) being placed on the shoulders of women. As Spike Runyan and Anne Peterson describe in Global Gender Issues, the interaction of gender stereotypes in the public, political sector and the private, domestic sector reinforce each other and thus continue to prevent women from achieving both personal and professional goals. While past approaches to combating inequality with regards to the division of labor have called for bringing more women into the workforce and better integrating them into work culture, these approaches do not address the underlying issue that working women face: they are expected to complete the same amount of productive work as men, yet also complete their reproductive, unpaid work at home to support their husband and children. If a woman fails to meet the obligations that both productive and reproductive labor entail, she is criticized for being poor at her job and for being a poor mother or wife.
In recent years, the number of stay-at-home fathers in the US has been steadily increasing. A study conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2013 showed that fathers represent 16% of all stay-at-home parents, up from 10% in 1989. The statistic that stood out most to me though as that only 21% of stay-at-home fathers admit to staying at home primarily to care for their home or family, whereas 73% of stay-at-home mothers admit to staying at home for the same reason. While the number of stay-at-home fathers is increasing, the stereotype that stay-at-home fathers are incapable of having a ‘real job’ or are failures as men is still as strong as ever. The recession in 2008 led to a large spike in the number of stay-at-home dads, implying that often men will only take on the duties of reproductive labor when they have no other economical choices. The last year has shown a small decrease in the number of stay-at-home dads as the economy returns to a more stable state following 2008.
Companies that have special benefits for women with families and resources for women to excel in the workplace are praised as being modern, forward-thinking, and diverse. However, while these resources and benefits do indeed help women and those adjectives are indeed fitting for those companies, the lack of resources and benefits for men with families reinforces the gendered stereotype that only women are responsible for reproductive labor. To combat the root of inequality in this type of division of labor, we need to combat the negative stereotypes surrounding stay-at-home fathers, men doing household work, and women acting as the breadwinner for her family. While privately men are beginning to take on a greater share of reproductive labor at home, they do not receive encouragement or support in the public sphere to take on these roles. It is the responsibility of those in power in both the private and public sectors, men and women, to provide resources, host conferences and seminars, offer paternity leave and paternity benefits and most importantly, talk about what it means to be a working father or stay-at-home father.
As Peterson and Runyan discuss, the qualities associated with reproductive labor are deeply intertwined with qualities associated with the feminine: loving, caring, emotional, nurturing, as well as unskilled, voluntary, and incapable of other work. The association with home labor and feminized characterizations will not change by just making it easier for women to both work and provide unpaid labor for their families. It has to start with powerful men restructuring this role and stereotype to encourage other men to change their mentality. Recent statistics have shown that only 12% of companies offer paid paternity leave or any type of paternity benefits. Even when companies do offer paternity leave, men often feel inclined to not take their leave as they will face backlash from colleagues and higher-ups in the workplace for taking on a role that should be left to their wive’s.
In the past year, companies have finally begun to tackle this issue through a masculine-lens by beginning to offer paternity leave and benefits that allow men to equally share the burden of parenthood with women or partners. Mark Zuckerberg has been a recent role model for fathers and families around the world with his very public display of pride in being a father and role he has taken in his baby daughter’s life. Just two days ago, Zuckerberg posted the photo below to his Facebook account:
Zuckerberg’s public endorsement for paternity leave, as well as the attempt that other private sector companies are making to offer paternity leave and other paternity benefits is the first step to restructuring the gendered stereotypes of unpaid, reproductive labor.
While efforts in the private sector in the US to combat this gender gap ought to be rewarded and are effective, the global economy is still deeply dependent on the unequal division of labor and the feminization of unpaid and reproductive work. Men are expected to always prioritize their financial obligation to their family over their emotional obligation as a husband and father, and this mentality has resulted in great global economic success at the cost of women. As Peterson and Runyan discuss, a man’s willingness to take on unpaid or feminized labor only increases when faced with economic struggle or poverty.
In these cases, poor men prevent women from bringing in money by engaging in domestic violence or preventing them from working to uphold their position of superiority over the women in their lives. This mentality will only change when men in power begin to take pride in being a husband and a father and encourage other men to do the same.
People are slowly beginning to recognize the contributions of women to the economy and long-term development in the public sphere, and with this recognition should come the recognition and encouragement of men’s contribution to reproductive, unpaid work in the private sphere.
I consciously recognize that my views on this topic are a bit hypocritical. When I hear of a father taking on a stay at home role, I have no demeaning judgements. But when I think about myself potentially taking on this role, it is very difficult for me to envision happily doing so. I think there are many contributing factors for this. The general view society has on this I think would definitely give me insecurities.
ReplyDeleteThe obvious problem is how this viewpoint contributes to gender inequality, and for this, it is essential for businesses to begin to endorse paternity leave. Especially with faces of large businesses such as Mark Zuckerberg openly taking time away from FaceBook in order to be a caring father for his daughter.
I agree with Ty on this issue. I think my views are just as hypocritical as his when I really take a look at the topic at hand. I do think that companies should allow the same benefits for men and women taking leave, but I also wouldn't want to have the job of a stay-at-home dad either. I don't really know why that doesn't have much of an appeal to me, but it definitely doesn't. I think the progressive thing to do is to offer these benefits to both genders and then hope it gets indoctrinated that it's totally fine and normal to be a stay-at-home father. I think with the ideas that have been burned into me though, it's tough for even me, as a 20 year old, to adopt this newer ideology. Old dogs do learn new tricks though, so there's still hope.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I think it will be a long time before there is no longer social stigma surrounding stay at home dads. I thought it was interesting to hear from Ty and Kevin on this issue. Their reluctant admittance that being a stay at home dad doesn’t appeal to them is evidence of how long society has to go before there is gender equity. Interestingly, even as being a stay at home dad slowly becomes more socially acceptable, I think there will be an inversely increasing stigma surrounding stay at home moms. Similarly to the working women era of the 80s led women to feel the need to prove themselves in the workforce, I think women might feel that they are not being assertive or independent or powerful if their husband is unwilling to take over stay at home dad duties. My mom, who was a stay at home mom my entire childhood, has told me before that she felt that female peers who were in the workforce looked down on her because she was well educated but chose to ‘just’ be a stay at home mom instead of being a businesswoman. I think there may be a resurgence of this type of judgement for both genders as men start to be stay at home dads more often. What really needs to happen is a broader shift in mentality. Culturally, our society values career success as the pinnacle of achievement. Instead we should be focusing on unquantifiable metrics such as contentment and feelings of purpose. People need to worry less about judging other peoples’ actions and more about making decisions that are right for their own families.
ReplyDeletea. You brought up a very interesting topic, and I personally find it very relatable. I come from a culture where women who prioritize work over family is often times looked down upon. Respectively, caring for her baby and looking after her husband at home are traditional ways of being a perfect wife. Encouraging more women to join the work force would ultimately empower women. With women being an integral part of the economy, this could eventually help calm the debate on gender discrimination and prejudices. I really hope to see other countries adopt this new evolving ideology. I believe that this would not only empower women, but also the family as a whole. I’m looking forward to seeing more children grow up spending quality time with both of their parents!
ReplyDeleteThe 1950s was an era that began with a seemingly clean slate from previous chaos experienced, such as the Great Depression and World War II. One’s participation in one’s family was based on one’s perception of what his/her role should be, according to society, and gender-based division of labor characterized families until the middle of the twentieth century. One well-known role in families was the role of the father, who worked hard to provide for his family, as well as had weaker relationships with his children. These characteristics factored into what sociologists commonly label a “nuclear family,” which is a family in which there are typically two married, co-residential, heterosexual parents comprised of the female “homemaker” and the male “breadwinner.” However, fathers have begun to stray away from the stereotypical path they felt obligated to follow. True, there is a large group of fathers today who are absent from their children’s lives; yet, there is also a group of new fathers, “good” fathers, who are emerging. These fathers feel it is as much their duty to help their kids with homework, feed their babies, etc., as it is to earn a living to provide for their families. Many fathers no longer enter a marriage feeling they must follow a sort of rule of how a father should be, but instead touch on their own personal beliefs about actually having a genuine relationship with their children.
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