Is There Such a Thing as Women’s Work?

Abstract

Social norms regarding women’s roles have evolved. Throughout history there have been cultural expectations about the division of labor between the sexes. Prior to the Industrial Revolution in the United States, women and men often worked side by side, typically on a family farm or in a family business. After the Industrial Revolution, most men went to work in factories, performing jobs often considered dangerous, dirty, and inappropriate for women, while women had primary responsibility for work done in the home. It is only relatively recently that women, particularly married women, gained more autonomy and reentered the workforce in large numbers. In fact, for much of history, a married woman was considered subordinate to her husband—it was not even until the 1970s that a married woman could apply for credit in her own name. It is not surprising that women’s family responsibilities often impact their labor market choices. In this chapter we explore the evolution of gender roles, the types of work that women perform, and social and contraceptive changes that have influenced women’s family responsibilities and work choices.