Blog #3 Work and Home

Care-work is done in every state and every country around the world. Care-work is not always a choice, but a necessity. If there is a young child or an elderly parent that needs taking care of it falls to the women because they are seen as the primary caregivers. The work they do does not receive monetary rewards and most of the time is overlooked by others. I think that society tends to take for granted how intense this burden is and they do not realize how much women actually do. This work is seen as the “Labor of Love”. Most women who do decide to enter the workforce are finding that after they work their 9 to 5 jobs, they return home to work a “second shift” doing the domestic duties of housework. According to “Changing Shift in Women’s Work”, the gender divide is still present, but the gender roles are shifting. More and more men are staying at home to take care of the kids while the women are the breadwinners. One thing I found interesting that was also in “Changing Shift in Women’s Work” was that high earning women did more housework as a way to make it up to their husbands for making more money and because men wanted to feel masculine so they just refuse to help with house work.

When I first read the questioned posed about my personal experience with care-work in my family I was quick to answer “no”. But, as I was standing at the counter folding laundry it occurred to me that that is what I am doing right now. I am not a mother myself and I am not married, but I help watch two young girls (between 21 – 24 months old) on a daily basis. In between homework assignments I am changing diapers, cooking meals, doing dishes, doing laundry, and many other household tasks. Growing up, however, I experienced a complete 180 in gender roles. My mom would go to work as an electrician in a power plant while my dad stayed home with me and my brothers and sister with the household responsibilities solely on his shoulders. I think that if I could be in a role reversal that I would not think twice about it. I do not see the “labor of love” as something I have to have or have to do. If my significant other was willing and able to do the household chores, then more power to them.

“Juggling Work and Care” has opened my mind to things that I never thought about before. For employers in the UK to be understanding and flexible to their employees responsibilities as care-workers is great. I can see how the arrangement leads to more productivity and loyalty from employees. The UK’s use of small teams and multi-skills training makes it possible for employees to take care of their duties without fear of falling behind or losing their jobs. They know that their co-workers will be able to get the work done without them and without any animosity. Even if an employee is not in a care-worker position they have a piece of mind because they know that if the need arises they will receive the same support.