Sociology of the Family April 28, 2015

Arlie Hochschild (1989) The Second Shift Major Issue: The influx of women into the economy has been steady over the 20th Century, most notably among white women. However, workplaces and households have remained inflexible in relation to this change. Changes in the structure of economic life have not precipitated cultural changes (at work or in terms of husbands’ adaptation to women’s new roles). What is the “progress” of the two job family? How do couples deal with the hours of extra work that must be completed at home/in the private sphere, after the workday? Major Concepts: Stalled Revolution Gender Ideologies – Traditional, Transitional, and Egalitarian Gender Strategies Economy of gratitude Family Myths

Examples of Concepts from the Research “The Holts” Stats: Middle-Class couple with a young son, both working days Gender Ideologies: Nancy is egalitarian; Evan is transitional How do Nancy and Evan Holt’s gender ideologies clash, and what is their solution? What are their gender strategies? What family myths are sustained?

Examples of Concepts from the Research The Delacortes Stats: Working-Class Couple Both have traditional ideologies How did they reconcile economic reality with their gender ideologies? What kinds of family myths did they uphold?

Additional Examples of Families Seth and Jessica Stein  Stats: Both are young lawyers, with a son Ex. of “Economy of Gratitude:” Seth’s career is important to his sense of self as a man, though he does not consider housework or childcare emasculating. He does less housework and after the child came became the primary breadwinner. He feels pressured to be thankful to his wife for sacrificing her career to stay at home with their children. In turn, she is supposed to be thankful to him for working long hours. Neither realizes any gratitude. Their marriage is on the rocks because there is a scarcity of gratitude and a lack of sympathy for each other.

Additional Examples of Families Art and Julia Winfield Stats: Mixed-race couple, working-middle class, one young son Art is disconnected from egalitarian ideologies, but he behaves like an egalitarian. He has a personal inclination to spend more time with his son and to be a nurturer. Does much of the housework and does not really like his job as a laboratory assistant.

Additional Examples of Families Anita and Ray Judson Stats: Working-Class, African-American couple with 2 young children and more on the way Ray is a truck driver and Anita is an office assistant. Ray’s understanding of himself as a man is tied to his work. He believes that his work is more important than Anita’s because he earns more and believes he works harder, so, like Evan Holt, Ray is only willing to complete “downstairs” tasks and play with his son for about an hour each day. As his gender strategy, Ray wants Anita to stay home and be more dependant on him, so that she will not decide to leave him.