Women’s roles in the workforce have undergone significant changes throughout history. Initially absent during the early Industrial Revolution, women were called upon primarily when men went to war or were otherwise occupied. As time passed, women gained access to higher education and the ability to pursue careers.1 However, it was still common for them to leave their jobs once they married or had children. Today, with advancements in technology and new opportunities, women are increasingly becoming the primary earners in their households. Currently, around 16% of opposite-sex households have women as the breadwinner.2
Despite the growing presence of women in the workforce, they still bear the brunt of housework in addition to their careers. Within the home, labor is often immediately assigned to the women. It’s not uncommon for them to manage seemingly endless maintenance chores such as laundry, dishwashing, vacuuming, and driving the kids, along with any additional tasks that may arise. When men participate in household chores, they tend to handle infrequent and more visible tasks, which often receive more praise. For instance, while the completion of yardwork is easily noticeable and celebrated, the constant cycle of laundry is an ongoing task that women must incorporate into their schedules.
A double standard exists in parenting as well. Fathers are often applauded for playing with their children in public, while mothers, who ensure their children’s needs are met behind the scenes, receive little recognition. Despite this, many men believe they are competent partners and parents, though this is often not the case. While they do try to help, the primary burden still falls on women. Men often view tasks like making dinner or folding laundry as “helping” their wives, rather than equally sharing responsibilities. Similarly, fathers may feel they are actively parenting, yet sometimes they can’t answer basic questions about their children. This is highlighted in videos3,4 where fathers, claiming to be close with their children, fail to answer simple questions such as “what color are your daughter’s eyes” or “when is your son’s birthday?” A similar trend on social media has shown mothers asking fathers similar questions, with many fathers giving incorrect or incomplete answers. While these failures may be humorous, they underscore the intellectual labor mothers undertake.
As new generations emerge, the persistence of gender roles remains evident. A study5 by Sociological Science revealed that 26% of high school seniors would prefer a household where the man works full-time and the woman stays home, a larger portion than any other combination. Understanding how these preferences are formed is a crucial part of embracing alternatives. Often, these preferences are subconsciously passed down from parent to child or observed within society. The longstanding tradition of women staying home or doing all the housework is rarely questioned, so it’s hardly surprising that young people have come to accept this as the norm.6
As the world continues to evolve and traditional values are reexamined, households need to recognize the extensive labor women perform, as well as the reasons behind it. This labor is a heavy burden to carry, making mothers the often-unrecognized key contributors to their children’s success. Acknowledging the connection between societal norms and individuals’ actions is crucial; Households can move toward an equal division of mental and physical labor only if individuals proactively address and understand the biases they bring into partnerships.
Sources:
- History of Women in the Workplace | Stacker
- Husbands and Wives Earn Similar Wages in a Growing Share of Marriages | Pew Research Center
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgQpjJnGLcE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPbOGEUvZA
- https://sociologicalscience.com/articles-v7-2-36/
- Research highlights gender bias persistence over centuries – The Source – Washington University in St. Louis (wustl.edu)
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