Sexual Division Of Labor Research Articles

Marriage, poverty and inferiority: A qualitative study of the causes and consequences of early marriage among Afghan migrant women in Yazd, Iran

This study investigated the phenomenon of early marriage among Afghan migrant women in Yazd city, Iran. Data were collected using qualitative research method based on interview with 20 participants. The data were analyzed using Grounded Theory approach by employing open, axial, and selective coding and the findings include 13 main and one core categories, which presented in a paradigm model. Findings indicate that early marriage usually occurs in poor families, resulting from the interplay between poverty and gender discrimination. Discriminatory attitudes, women's lack of economic independence, gender division of labor, and unfavorable economic conditions ultimately lead to "lived experience of poverty". Therefore, in a reinforcing cycle, gender inequalities and poverty are aligned, and inequalities are strengthened in all dimensions, reproducing its own social and gender norms which once again reproduce the marriage cycle of poverty and inferiority.

Gender analysis in selected agricultural practices in Gedeo and Halaba zones in Southern Ethiopia

Identification and recognition of gender-dis aggregated constraints, gender imbalances, differentials in gender roles, and decision-making on agriculture production, technology transfer, and input utilization are essential to the transformation of research output to benefit women and men. This study aimed to assess gender integration in selected agricultural practices and gender division of labor in the Gedeo and Halaba Zones. The study employed a cross-sectional design. The sample respondents were randomly 86 men and 69 women farmers, and a total of 155 farmers were selected to collect the data through triangulation of key informants interviews, focus group discussion, and household survey. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Data analysis results in the frequency of men and women's participation computed. Different gender participation factors evaluated. According to the data analysis result, the effect of community norms was assessed among 155 respondents, men 54 (34.8%), 0 (0%), and 15 (9.7%), responded as yes, no and undecided, respectively. Similarly, women participants believed that 64 (41.9%), 1 (0.6%), and 36 (23.2%), responded as yes, no and undecided, respectively. Decision-making could affect gender participation. Men 66 (42.6%), 1 (0.6%) and 20 (12.9%) responded as yes, no and undecided, respectively. Likewise, women participants believed that 53 (34.2%), 1 (0.6%) and 15 (9.7%), responded as yes, no, and undecided, respectively. Concerning care workmen 65 (41.9%), 0 (0%) and 21 (135%), responded as yes, no and undecided, respectively. Similarly, women participants believed that 54 (34.8%), 0 (0%) and 15 (9.7%), responded yes, no and undecided, respectively. Average task share of the household is 30%, 15%, 43% and 12% for men, boys, women and girls, respectively. Women and men performed a larger share of the gender role in rural households than boys and girls. The reproductive work of women in the household covered 67% of the total household care work. The gender participation index in selected agricultural practices was 0.709. However, the Participation Index of men was found to be 0.55 and that of women was 0.45. According to this statistical result, household members spent agricultural labor hours differently, as converting this labor share into daily labor hours indicated that women, men, boys, and girls are spending 10, 7, 4 and 3 hours per day on average, respectively. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 14(1): 1-9, June 2024

Resilient Traditions, Modern Realities

This study explores the political economy of Minangkabau, a culturally rich and the world�s largest matrilineal community. The research focuses on understanding the power dynamics between men and women by conducting a gender analysis. The findings reveal that Minangkabau women hold a unique and privileged societal position. Traditionally, societal expectations allocate more roles and responsibilities to men, particularly in economic and political domains. Contemporarily, the special rights held by women have faded and been replaced by dominant male gender roles. Some gender roles have begun to disappear, such as the role of Bundo kanduang, mamak and tigo tungku sajarangan. In accessing economic resources, Minangkabau women experience challenges from men, private parties, and the government. These ignore the role of women as the legitimate owners of inherited property in Minangkabau land. Meanwhile, Minangkabau women have difficulty competing with men within systems that tend to be biased for political resources. In addition, Minangkabau women increasingly participate in productive work, demonstrating their ability to compete with men in the labor market. Despite these advancements, the study highlights a challenge for Minangkabau women. Keywords: Matrilineal, Gender, Political Economy, Gender Roles, Resources, Gender Division of Labor

Women Till and Women Weave: Rice, Cotton, and the Gendered Division of Labor in Jiangnan

Women Till and Women Weave: Rice, Cotton, and the Gendered Division of Labor in Jiangnan

A technológiai fejlődés hatása a nemek közötti munkamegosztásra az egészségügyben, a robotasszisztált sebészet területén

Technological progress has always played a key role in the development of the economy and society throughout human history. Their impact on society is multifaceted and constantly transforming our world. One aspect of social impact is the impact on the sexual division of labour. As a result of these processes, the labour market may undergo significant changes. The impact of technological development on the division of labour between sexes or genders is complex and multifaceted, therefore it can be examined from several aspects. Although technology offers opportunities for gender equality between women and men, the extent and direction of this depends on many factors, including cultural, social and economic circumstances. The present study focuses on an important sector of the economy, healthcare, which is significantly affected by technological development. Among the technological changes taking place in the sector, it examines the emergence of robotic surgery, with a particular focus on its impact on the gender division of labour within the surgical professions.

‘The care crisis within’: gender division of labour and care work in middle-class families in Kerala during the pandemic

ABSTRACT This article highlights the facets of gender disparities in care work and emotional labour within dual earning households that have aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online qualitative survey and in-depth interviews carried out among 50 heterosexual, middle-class, and upper-middle-class working parents in Kerala, India, in the post-pandemic period, indicate that working mothers faced time poverty and additional work burden during the lockdown period, while they tussled between work from home and (care) works at home, as external support mechanisms were suspended during the pandemic. The findings illustrate that the disparities in division of labour are immense and are associated with more feminized labour such as cooking and childcare responsibilities, and that the spouses normalize such disparities. I further argue that the glorification and magnification of voluntary involvement of men in care work further problematize the dichotomy. I construe that the egalitarian gender perspectives expressed by the respondents are premised on the concept of gender equality as something to be achieved outside the family, and not within. Here, I illustrate how the working wives and mothers are compelled to over-compensate for ideas of femininity and motherliness associated with the figure of the housewife, through this imposed volunteering of care work.

Toward a just circular economy: conceptualizing environmental labor and gender justice in circularity studies

Over the past decade, the concept of circular economy (CE) has gained political traction as a potential solution to economy-environment tradeoffs. However, critical social scientists have raised concerns that CE may not address the root causes or consequences of environmental degradation, thus remaining ineffective. Concurring with this critique, this article highlights three constituent elements of the linear economy that remain unaddressed in CE frameworks: environmental, labor, and gender inequalities. Building upon scholarship from environmental justice, environmental labor studies, and feminist ecological economics, we elaborate a conceptual framework to interrogate the existing literature. Our analysis shows that current CE models 1) are mainly concerned with return on capital investment and sustained growth of gross domestic product (GDP) rather than with redressing the North/South inequalities embedded in the linear economy model; 2) present a limited perspective on labor, with a primary focus on the number of jobs to be created, rather than their quality, or workers’ leadership; and 3) overlook gender inequalities and the sexual division of labor, thus reproducing the devaluation of care that lays at the roots of socioecological crises. We conclude by suggesting avenues for elaborating a “just circular economy” framework.

Dynamic Analysis of Progressive Income Taxation and Economic Growth with Endogenous Labor Supply and Public Goods

This research advances the development of a sophisticated economic growth model that intricately integrates gender-differentiated labor, endogenous labor supply, and nonlinear progressive income taxation, with the latter's revenues earmarked for public goods provision. Anchored in a framework that encompasses both a production and a public sector financed through taxation, the model delves into the complex interplay among economic growth, the gender division of labor, and progressive income taxation. By employing rigorous simulation techniques, this study meticulously examines the conditions for equilibrium existence and investigates the system's dynamics in response to various parametric alterations. This exploration not only sheds light on the theoretical underpinnings of economic growth and taxation but also offers insights into the policy implications of gender-differentiated labor contributions within the economy.

The gender dimensions of food security: Ethnographic accounts of agro-pastoralists of the Ittu Oromo, East Africa

Gender is the most important but overlooked aspect of food security analysis. Informed by experiential narrative resilience framework, this paper thus discusses the gender dimensions of food security based on the accounts of Ittu Oromo agro-pastoralists. Ethnographic data were collected through participant observation, focus group discussion and narrative interview, and analyzed thematically. Accordingly, four major themes have emerged: women vis-à-vis food among Ittu Oromo, gender division of labour, consumption decision making, and mutual support (quubii) as food security strategy. The finding thus indicated that women are an important actor in food preservation, preparation and allocation in agro-pastoralists of Ittu Oromo. In division of labour, women are largely engaged in such domestic works as caring and cooking while men engage in farm and other non-domestic activities though there are changes today. Consumption decision-making appears to be collective though men tend to dominate. In household food allocation, women seem powerful though they tend to eat least and last but given precedence – during pregnancy and post-partum period. In the context of dearth, women proved innovative that they put heads together to support each other through such village-based institutions as quubii. Among the agro-pastoralists of Ittu Oromo, quubii plays a pivotal role in building women capacity to deal with food shortage. Women, however, remained to be vulnerable particularly when they are head of the family that culturally sound resilience building intervention such as increased access to resource, enhanced participation in decision making, and strengthening mutual support and cooperation (such as quubii) appears crucial.

The New Servant Problem: Paid Domestic Work, Race, and the Gendered Division of Labor

The New Servant Problem: Paid Domestic Work, Race, and the Gendered Division of Labor

The Relevance of Gendered Division of Labour to Sustain Indigenous Livelihood Resources in the Era of Climate Change

Rural communities procure household food requirements by raising cattle and subsistence crops as well as by collecting wild edible plant materials, which are recently characterized by poor production as a result of climate change. The present study described the impacts of climate change on indigenous food resources and discusses the importance of indigenous gendered division of labour in food procurement using these resources today. Participatory research with a sample of 155 participants was used to collect data. The study findings show that the indigenous division of labour for men and women exists to a lesser extent for the provision of household food requirements. The natural resources exploited for household food security are climate-reliant, and therefore, their production is reduced due to unfavorable rainfall and temperature episodes. Paid labour led men and women to leave their cultural responsibilities, a practice that compromised the indigenous division of labour. The study contributes to the need for a coordinated labour force suggested to ensure food security, which could aid in attaining Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Keywords: Climate change, livelihood resources, gendered-labour division, patriarchy, Limpopo Province

GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND SPOUSAL CAREGIVING FOR THOSE WITH DEMENTIA: A FOCUS ON EMOTION WORK

Abstract This study draws upon and expands three research streams. The first relates to spousal caregiving for those with dementia, and gender differences in stress. Based on gender divisions of labor, men are more likely to take a task-oriented approach to caregiving; women take a more holistic, empathetic approach. The second strand relates to emotion work, wherein caregivers manipulate their own emotions to produce a desired outcome in another (Hochschild, 2003). Research shows that spouses find performing emotion work “draining” (Umberson, et al., 2020), and that women do it more. Finally, we draw upon research that finds that same-sex couples are more egalitarian in their division of labor than are straight couples; how this impacts caregiving approaches or emotion work is unclear. Weaving these together, our study explores how inequalities of gender and sexuality intersect in shaping caregiving by older adults who care for their demented spouses. Our analysis of in-depth interviews conducted among 69 straight, gay, and lesbian caregivers finds that, first, heterosexual men rarely engage in emotion work, though they do manage their own feelings. Second, heterosexual wives overwhelmingly manipulate their feelings in attempts to gain compliance from their spouses, calm them, and/or make them happy. Finally, both gay men and lesbians perform emotion work, and they tend to combine the task-oriented and holistic approaches to care. These findings make clear that gender differences found in previous caregiving research are not “natural,” and suggest that straight men’s lower stress levels may result from their tendency to skip emotion work.

Gender, Nationalism and Revolution in Western Sahara: Women’s Participation in the Polisario State-Movement

This paper explores the intersections of gender, nationalism and revolution by analysing the Polisario Front’s ideology, gender dynamics, women’s legal and constitutional rights, political engagement, sexual division of labour and the women’s rights movement. The analysis presented in this article is grounded in ethnographic and archival research conducted in the Saharawi refugee camps of Tindouf between 2017 and 2018. It argues that the emerging Saharawi feminism is an unintended consequence of the social revolution and conflict-induced migration.

Exploring the Root Causes of Inequality and Gender Issues in Current China Based on Existence Theory

Much of gender inequality has its roots in differences between men and women in society. In addition to the difference in the sexual division of labour, the difference is rooted in the roles and relations constructed by society. Inspired by Chizuko Uenos writing, the author intends to explore the inequality and gender issues that could not be ignored. This article takes advantage of the existence theory, a new sociological theory, to explore the root causes of gender inequality in current China. This article also compares the existential milestones of men and women and uses contradictory milestones to explain gender inequality and inequality in different social classes. In addition, the article discusses why the common perception that taking care of families is women's natural responsibility exists in modern society. Finally, the article points out some legislation approaches to address gender inequality and compares the progress of feminist awareness in China and abroad, hoping to push the development of gender equality.

Crossing the Boundaries of Gender: Care Experiences Among Bolivian Aymara Migrant Women in the Andean Triple-Border

This article addresses the results of an ethnography study on the cross-border experiences of Bolivian Aymara women in the Chilean territories of the Andean Triple-border (between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia). Its objective is to test the assumptions of the international literature on the relationship between gender inequalities, care, and migration. Its analytical focus is on the relationship between (1) the constitution of inequalities in the gender division of labor in the women's families and ethnic communities, (2) their productive and reproductive overloads, and (3) the articulation of female care chains that sustain cross-border mobilities.

Does Participation in the “Grain for Green Program” Change the Status of Rural Men and Women? An Empirical Study of Northeast China

The Grain for Green (GfG) program is an afforestation project created by the Chinese Government to protect the environment. Farmers who participate in GfG return farmland to forest. Losing arable land means losing an income source, so farmers have to reorient their livelihood strategies, leading to potential changes in the gender division of labor. To assess gender differences in the impact of policies, we use indicators from the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI), which measures the status of women relative to that of men. Using sex-disaggregated data from farmers in mountainous areas of northeast China and applying the inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) estimator, we found that the status of men and women had increased with GfG participation, but women’s status had improved more than men’s. However, this was not because of their smooth participation in the program, but because of its challenges. Their decision-making skills improved unexpectedly due to pressure to protect their interests. Rural women worried about their families’ livelihoods, so they tried to improve their family welfare and diversified their income sources. In this process, women had more interactions with outside communities. Our results underline the strong need to continuously monitor the gender impacts of environmental policies.

Socio-Labour Inclusion of Low-Income Women in the Digital Economy: A Comparison between Corporate and Cooperative Domestic Work Platforms

It is often argued that digital labour platforms entail an expansion of opportunities for women for several reasons. They facilitate the balance between paid work and household chores as a result of time flexibility, they eliminate entry and permanence barriers for typically male work sectors, they enable economic independence, and they favour the creation of professional networks. Several studies, however, have shown that the wage gap, the sexual division of labour, occupational segregation, and gender stereotypes still persist. Hence, to what extent do the new forms of labour mediated by digital platforms lead to an expansion of opportunities for women? This article analyses the socio-labour inclusion of low-income women in digital labour platforms by contrasting the model of corporate platforms against the emerging alternative of platform cooperatives. The movement of platform cooperativism advocates for the creation of platform companies based on democratic ownership and governance models that reduce inequalities in a broad sense. The methodological approach is based on the comparison of two platforms: Zolvers, which was founded in 2013 with headquarters in Argentina and which operates as an intermediary or marketplace between those who offer and those who require home cleaning services, and Up & Go, which was founded in 2017 in New York and is owned by six worker cooperatives that use the platform to offer various services on demand, particularly home cleaning services. Whereas Zolvers offers job opportunities with possibilities of formalisation but no guarantee of stability, Up & Go is owned and managed by worker cooperatives that seek to guarantee living wages for their worker-members. Concerning working conditions, Zolvers reproduces power asymmetries of domestic work, subordinating workers to the platform and the hirers. On the contrary, Up & Go empowers women workers to decide on their schedules and hirers, among other issues. Finally, whereas Zolvers does not enable the participation of workers either in governance or in technology design, the cooperative nature of Up & Go promotes their involvement.

“It’s Certainly Fair for Me”: Hybrid Masculinities and the Gendered Division of Labor during COVID-19

We draw on 31 in-depth interviews with fathers in different-sex couples to examine how their masculine performances contributed to the gender gap in household labor during the COVID-19 pandemic. The structural conditions of the pandemic created more and more intensive labor for families with young children, and we argue these conditions provided fathers with an opportunity to perform hybrid masculinities (i.e., masculinities that incorporate elements of non-hegemonic or subordinated masculinities or femininities) while simultaneously maintaining their families' unequal divisions of labor. The fathers in this study (1) exaggerated their childcare and housework contributions and commitment to egalitarianism, (2) decoupled inequality from unfairness, and (3) delayed changes in their household labor until their wives reached their breaking points. In the context of the pandemic, these hybrid masculinities exacerbated intra-couple inequality with potentially long-lasting consequences for marital satisfaction and women’s health and careers. Our study demonstrates how the very conditions that pigeonholed mothers into more traditional, restrictive routines allowed fathers to engage in new and more expansive gendered practices.

Hybrid Working, Well-being and Gender: A Study on a Public Sector Organization During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 global pandemic, likewise private sector, public sector organisations also shifted to partial homeworking or hybrid working to comply with the government-imposed social distancing policies. This study examines the effect of enforced hybrid working on employee well-being via markers of stress, workload, loneliness, and detachment. This study also investigates the impact of involuntary hybrid working on the gender division of labour. This study applies qualitative research within a cross-sectional design to identify the well-being outcomes and experiences of male and female employees. The findings of this study reveal that factors such as disruptions in internet connectivity, increased workload, longer working hours with no fixed schedule, and lack of interaction with colleagues and social support negatively affect well-being leading to increased stress while working from home. Family responsibilities including child caring while working from home influence female employees’ well-being. In addition, hybrid working provides advantages of both onsite and homeworking and thus, provides an opportunity to balance work and family life.

Work, Gender and Witchcraft in Early Modern England

AbstractThis article revisits a question with which historians of early modern European witchcraft have long grappled: why was the average percentage of male suspects so small (approximately 10–30 per cent), and the percentage of female suspects so large? Drawing on recent studies by economic historians, it argues that this skewed gender ratio can be explained, in part, by the gendered patterns of work which obtained in early modern Europe. Focusing on England, it shows how four key variables – gender divisions of labour, occupational hazard, contact frequency and workplace sociability – combined to increase or decrease workers’ vulnerability to witchcraft accusation.