Work and Family Balance Flashcards
What are invisible efforts in domestic work?
Domestic tasks like cleaning and organizing that often go unnoticed because they must be done repeatedly, with results that quickly fade.
Why is domestic work often considered low status?
Domestic tasks such as laundry and cleaning are undervalued and perceived as unimportant or unglamorous.
What is the repetitive nature of domestic work?
The constant and cyclical nature of tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare.
How did industrialization affect family labor roles?
Industrialization shifted family roles by moving labor outside the home, creating a divide in domestic responsibilities.
What are labor-saving devices, and what do they aim to achieve?
Tools like washing machines and vacuums designed to reduce effort and save time on domestic tasks.
How do labor-saving devices paradoxically increase workloads for homemakers?
They raise societal expectations for cleanliness and meal preparation, increasing the workload instead of reducing it.
What is the opportunity cost of domestic work?
The potential earnings a homemaker foregoes by managing household duties instead of working outside the home.
What is the replacement cost of domestic work?
The estimated cost of hiring someone to perform the tasks typically managed by a homemaker.
Why is caregiving often devalued in society?
It is considered less valuable compared to paid professional work despite its significant economic and social contribution.
What is the pay gap between men and women, and how does it affect domestic work?
Women earn about $0.70 for every dollar earned by men and often face the “double shift” of paid work followed by domestic tasks.
How are domestic tasks typically divided between men and women?
Men tend to take on less urgent tasks like yard work, while women handle time-sensitive duties such as childcare and cooking.
What are “Mr. Mom” roles, and why are they significant?
Men as primary caregivers, which remain rare and stigmatized, reinforcing traditional gender roles.
Why is childcare considered a major domestic challenge?
It is one of the most time-consuming responsibilities and disproportionately affects mothers.
What systemic issues make balancing work and childcare difficult?
Challenges like irregular work schedules, unaffordable childcare, and inadequate programs exacerbate difficulties.
What are latchkey children?
Children left unsupervised due to parents’ work constraints, often in lower-income families.
