More Power for Women in the Household: Feminist Progress or Yet a Third Shift?

Shannon LC Cate — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:46:00 GMT

Though it purports to be about remote controls and television habits, this article in the Washington Post on a recent Pew poll of control in families is really about the work women are doing for their families, many of whom are already working all day away from their families.

Now, in addition to a paid job, housework and manager of the children's lives, women are gaining power in the four areas of finances, weekend activities, big-ticket purchases and television. (The television category is misleading, however, given that most people have multiple televisions and are retiring to separate rooms to watch them rather than squabbling over a family set.)

Finances? Read: balancing checkbooks, researching mortgage refinancing, budgeting for school supplies, winter coats and shoes. Weekend activities? You mean soccer games, dance recitals and religious observances? Big-ticket purchases? Oh, washer/driers, refrigerators and dishwashers?

Sounds like the usual round of women's work to me.

It strikes me as odd that the pollers are acting as if women being responsible for these things is some kind of fabulous feminist progress, because it wasn't like this half a century (and more) ago. Says Andrew Cherlin of Johns Hopkins University, "It's not the same as the 50's and '60's, where 'father knew best'."

Can I get a "duh?"

In this world, women doing more work is not really news. That work--or "control"--as the article calls it getting compensated in the same way men's work is compensated would be real news and real progress.

Strollerderby Playdate: Hard-Workin' Woman

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:00:00 GMT

As much as I'd like to have a playdate with Kate Bush -- and if anyone can hook me up with Ms Bush, I'll get you a pony --- my playdate this week is with Dawn Friedman at This Woman's Work.

Dawn blogs about mothering, writing and the intersection between the two. But that's not why I want to go on a date with her. No, I want to hang out with Dawn because she has an uncanny skill at handling passionate (and downright irate) commenters.

She's had plenty of practice lately, given that she's been blogging about the open adoption of her second child. Friedman writes with grace and spunk -- and fo that she deserves an afternoon of chit-chat and cookies.

Photo credit: gaffa.org

Strollerderby : women's work

More Power for Women in the Household: Feminist Progress or Yet a Third Shift?

Strollerderby Playdate: Hard-Workin' Woman