Women Workers and Technological Change in Europe in the Nineteenth and Twentieth CenturiesRefusing to be a 'Wife'! explores how women can transform their relationships in order to minimize the inequality found in traditional families. Drawing on interviews with women and men in explicitly anti-sexist living arrangements, the book provides a new perspective on the division of domestic labour, mothering, marriage and financial allocation in the home. The author examines the relationship between home and work, and the construction of gender equality, and discusses the key roles of women in the sphere of the home: wife, mother, worker, showing how the role/identity of 'wife' dominates and affects the other two roles. The author offers a feminist sociological answer to the question 'what is an anti-sexist living arrangement?', and provides insights into how women can balance commitments to work and home whilst retaining some form of individual identity. The discussions highlight the importance of men's commitment to anti-sexist living. Written in a clear and engaging style, this book will be of interest and relevance not only to feminists but to anyone interested in the 'potential' impact of feminism on family life. |
Contents
Marriage | 18 |
Mothering | 59 |
Nondomestic Work | 89 |
Financial Independence | 110 |
The Participants | 133 |
References | 155 |
Other editions - View all
Heterosexual Women Changing the Family: Refusing to be a 'wife'! Jo VanEvery No preview available - 1995 |
Common terms and phrases
analysis anti-sexist living arrangements Arlie Hochschild balance between non-domestic Brannen and Moss Carol Carolyn and Roger child childless heterosexual couples children with shared cohabiting convenience foods cooking couples with children Dave 21 Delphy and Leonard discussed division of housework division of labour domestic domestic workers employment feminism feminist research freelance gender Hertz Hochschild identity included income independent management system interview involved issue joint management system Karen labour market London Lynne and Dave Marilyn Frye marriage married married couples Miriam motherhood mothers by choice multiple adult arrangements nuclear family organization Pahl participants partner Paula and Rob political practical problems rejection related to eating residential group Roger 15 role reversals role-reversal situations role/identity of wife Roseanne sexual shared roles Sheffield Hallam University single mothers social relations society sociological strategies swap tasks term theory University unpaid voluntarily childless heterosexual woman women