Sociology 1201 Soc 1201: Week Nine Groups: “Marriage Contract” Groups: “Marriage Contract”Marriage ContractMarriage Contract The Division of Labor by Sex The Division of Labor by Sex Discussion questions, chapters 8&9, Lareau Discussion questions, chapters 8&9, Lareau Establishing causality in Sociology Establishing causality in Sociology Testing Lareau Testing Lareau Video: “Daddy and Papa” Video: “Daddy and Papa”Daddy and PapaDaddy and Papa

Sociology 1201 How do American parents divide the work of parenting? Many studies documenting that women, in the U.S. and in the world, do more than half of the parenting, even if: Many studies documenting that women, in the U.S. and in the world, do more than half of the parenting, even if: They say they believe in equal sharing They say they believe in equal sharing E.g. Hochschild, Second Shift E.g. Hochschild, Second Shift They work comparable hours They work comparable hours They make comparable incomes They make comparable incomes WHY IS THIS THE CASE? HOW DID YOU PICTURE THIS IN YOUR MARRIAGE CONTRACT EXERCISE? WHY IS THIS THE CASE? HOW DID YOU PICTURE THIS IN YOUR MARRIAGE CONTRACT EXERCISE?

Sociology 1201 My partner and I Feminist movement and our Intention to share equally Feminist movement and our Intention to share equally First year after son’s birth: sharing the exhaustion, celebrating First year after son’s birth: sharing the 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 intentions. Why?

Sociology 1201 Halving it All: Francine Deutsch Research method: Convenience sample of 429 couples, each partner working at least 20 hrs a week and with at least one child under 18 Research method: Convenience sample of 429 couples, each partner working at least 20 hrs a week and with at least one child under 18 96% white 96% white Religiously diverse Religiously diverse Averaged 2 children Averaged 2 children Average age of children: 5 and 8 Average age of children: 5 and 8 Over-represent upper middle class Over-represent upper middle class

Sociology 1201 Initial telephone interviews Initial interview of 15 minutes with each partner(separately), mostly by phone Initial interview of 15 minutes with each partner(separately), mostly by phone Key question: “Considering everything that goes into parenting in a typical week, what % do you do and what % does your spouse do.” Key question: “Considering everything that goes into parenting in a typical week, what % do you do and what % does your spouse do.”

Sociology 1201 Face-to-face interviews Long face-to-face interviews(1-4 hours, avg 2 hrs) with 30 couples in each of five groups Long face-to-face interviews(1-4 hours, avg 2 hrs) with 30 couples in each of five groups 1. Equal sharers, where both agreed 2. Potential equal sharers (at least one spouse reported husband doing 50%+) couples couples 5. Alternating shift couples

Sociology 1201 Creating Equality at Home Many of the equal sharers did not begin equal; even if they did, making a success of it required conflict and compromise. Many of the equal sharers did not begin equal; even if they did, making a success of it required conflict and compromise. Must negotiate standards for what Hochschild calls “the second shift.” What constitutes good housekeeping, good meals, and most of all, good childcare.

Sociology 1201 Fighting for equality Dorothy: “I actually went on strike a few times.” Dorothy: “I actually went on strike a few times.” Roberta: “That is when we entered into our hard negotiations… I think I sort of learned to talk back—to sort of stand up for myself.” Roberta: “That is when we entered into our hard negotiations… I think I sort of learned to talk back—to sort of stand up for myself.” Rita: “Of course we are always arguing about which way it’s tilted.” Rita: “Of course we are always arguing about which way it’s tilted.”

Sociology 1201 Creating Inequality at home Denise and Eric Denise and Eric Eric: “I’m either more selfish or I just don’t have the patience.” D needs Denise: “I have greater needs as a nurturer.” Eric: “I’m either more selfish or I just don’t have the patience.” D needs Denise: “I have greater needs as a 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… There are days when I feel like I’m just going crazy.” Peg: “Sometimes I feel like I have no time for myself ever… 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 home from work at six-thirty, seven, I’m tired, basically fatigued.” Ethan: “I don’t have the opportunity or the desire… If I come home from work at six-thirty, seven, I’m tired, basically fatigued.”

Sociology 1201 Fighting against equality A husband: “She probably won’t sit still on a Sunday… She’s not happy unless she’s doing something. I’m different. I can relax.” A husband: “She probably won’t sit still on a Sunday… She’s not happy unless she’s doing something. I’m different. I can relax.” “Carol works 52 hours a week and also does virtually all the housework. When I asked how her husband responded to her desire for him to do more he said: “I just chuckle.” “Carol works 52 hours a week and also does virtually all the housework. When I asked how her husband responded to her desire for him to do more he said: “I just chuckle.” …she seems resigned, perhaps because his behavior seems so normal…. “I see it in a lot of the guys.” …she seems resigned, perhaps because his behavior seems so normal…. “I see it in a lot of the guys.”

Sociology 1201 Sharers and Slackers Sharers: the men do more paid work but “when they are available, they are every bit as involved as their wives.” Sharers: the men do more paid work but “when they are available, they are every bit as involved as their wives.” Slackers : “the men who relax while their wives do the second shift”… see p. 46 Slackers : “the men who relax while their wives do the second shift”… see p. 46

Sociology 1201 Why might a woman accept less than she believes is fair? Arlie Hochschild, The Second Shift The economy of gratitude: “I just kind of do it. He helps much more than a lot of fathers help.” To whom do wives and husbands compare the husband’s contribution to the second shift?

Sociology 1201 Strategies of Resistance to equality “No initiative: “I’ll do anything you want… just tell me what.” Passive resistance: “the kids could be yelling and screaming. He’s just oblivious.” Passive resistance: “the kids could be yelling and screaming. He’s just oblivious.” Incompetence: “I wasn’t as good as Roz. Roz’s just good.” Incompetence: “I wasn’t as good as Roz. Roz’s just good.” Praise: “She’s wonderful as a mother. I feel lucky to have her as a partner because it takes a lot of the burden off me.” Praise: “She’s wonderful as a mother. I feel lucky to have her as a partner because it takes a lot of the burden off me.”

Sociology 1201 Symbolic interaction/conflict theory Deutsch: “The myth implicitly promulgated by these men is that their wives do the work at home… because they notice it, they’re better at it, and they enjoy it more.” The larger culture’s assumptions about women who put in too many hours of paid work and men who share equally at home. ( Coworkers, bosses, relatives, friends) The larger culture’s assumptions about women who put in too many hours of paid work and men who share equally at home. ( Coworkers, bosses, relatives, friends)

Sociology 1201 Creating a new social world of sharing the second shift ¾ of the equally sharing fathers know someone else doing the same Only 18% of the fathers know an equal sharer “Equal sharers… actively work to create this alternative world.”

Sociology 1201 Cultural images Mothering and self: “I want to be with her every minute.” Men and work. “You may be able to limit work hours, but only at the cost of advancement.” Deutsch: “Male investment and female disinvestment in jobs fuels the inequality in parenting.” Deutsch: “Male investment and female disinvestment in jobs fuels the inequality in parenting.”

Sociology 1201 Functionalism Institutions are interdependent Trends in the economy Deindustrialization, globalization, and wages NOW, Oct. 24, 2004: In 48 of 50 states industries adding jobs paying less than industries losing jobs (30% less in Minnesota) Female work force participation Chart 1. Married women, by age of child Chart 1. Married women, by age of child Chart 2: By age, 1970 and 1990 Chart 2: By age, 1970 and 1990

Sociology 1201 Functionalism again Is it an accident that work seems to increasingly take precedence over family, in a society that is globalized and must compete with countries around the globe? Is it an accident that work seems to increasingly take precedence over family, in a society that is globalized and must compete with countries around the globe? What would be the costs of de-emphasizing work and career, not for individuals but for the society? What would be the costs of de-emphasizing work and career, not for individuals but for the society? Is it a given that whatever creates the most powerful economy (and society) is also best for the individuals in that society? Is it a given that whatever creates the most powerful economy (and society) is also best for the individuals in that society?

Sociology 1201 Hochschild, The Time Bind Field study of a large industrial corporation in Milwaukee: Field study of a large industrial corporation in Milwaukee: Amerco’s” workers consistently reported being strained to the limit. Amerco’s” workers consistently reported being strained to the limit. The company offered policies that would allow them to cut back. The company offered policies that would allow them to cut back. Almost no one took the policies; in fact, most people she talked to seemed to be increasing their hours! Almost no one took the policies; in fact, most people she talked to seemed to be increasing their hours!

Sociology 1201 Top Managers Hochschild: “The twelve top managers I interviewed all worked between 50 and 70 hours a week.” Hochschild: “The twelve top managers I interviewed all worked between 50 and 70 hours a week.” About their parenting: “If you had it to do over again, would you do anything differently?” “I don’t know. I can’t answer that. Probably not.” About their parenting: “If you had it to do over again, would you do anything differently?” “I don’t know. I can’t answer that. Probably not.” What about women managers who have children? “I don’t know how they do it.” What about women managers who have children? “I don’t know how they do it.” “Just because a few women are concerned with balance doesn’t mean we change the rules. If they chose this career, they’re going to have to pay for it in hours “Just because a few women are concerned with balance doesn’t mean we change the rules. If they chose this career, they’re going to have to pay for it in hours

Sociology 1201 What needs to change to make equal sharing more possible? “Conventional careers demand the willingness to put in long working hours, to relocate for good job opportunities, to shield work from personal responsibilities, and to give work priority over family. Career building at its most intense occurs during the childbearing years.” “Conventional careers demand the willingness to put in long working hours, to relocate for good job opportunities, to shield work from personal responsibilities, and to give work priority over family. Career building at its most intense occurs during the childbearing years.” You’ll have to accept it that you’ll accomplish less in the world of work. You’ll have to accept it that you’ll accomplish less in the world of work.

Sociology 1201 Final words from changing parents A mother: “I think a child can have two number ones, I really do… I am not afraid of losing my role.” A mother: “I think a child can have two number ones, I really do… I am not afraid of losing my role.” “When I asked Barry if he thought his child had two mothers or two fathers, he was surprised by his own answer. ‘Boy, that’s a great question and as much as it’s an affront to my masculinity, I think it’s more like two mothers. Yeah I really do.” “When I asked Barry if he thought his child had two mothers or two fathers, he was surprised by his own answer. ‘Boy, that’s a great question and as much as it’s an affront to my masculinity, I think it’s more like two mothers. Yeah I really do.”