1. SOSC 200Y Gender and Society Lecture 17: Conflicting roles - working mother

2. L17: 08.11.06 Women and employment Changes in forms of production and the economic structure Expansion of service sector > Feminization of job Increase in girls’ educational attainment > Greater opportunities for women Human capital approach Free market

3. L17: 08.11.06 Human Capital of women

4. L17: 08.11.06 Labour force participation rate by age and sex (2002)

5. L17: 08.11.06 The effect of marriage on women’s labour force participation (1991)

6. L17: 08.11.06 General attitudes – role conflict?! It is not good for children if their mothers work outside home. Mothers should have had kids in the first place even if she go out to work. It is not easy for women to cope with the demands and responsibilities of paid employment and motherhood. It is not good for children’s development if the mother works long hours and has little time for them. In divorce, usually it would be better for young children to live with the mother.

7. L17: 08.11.06 Mothers’ Decisions Number of children Social network (relatives’ support) The availability of day-care facilities Job and market opportunities for mother Affection of the job Attractiveness of the income return Financial situation of the family

8. L17: 08.11.06 Struggles concerning employment Working class mother –Financial needs –Limited reward (to exchange for childcare services) –Difficult to rejoin the workforce –Increase dependency Middle-class mother –Financially independent –Away from monotonic job –Increase in social status –High expectation and demand on mother’s role –Selfish choice?!

9. L17: 08.11.06 Employers’ perspectives “Married men bring 2 people to the job, while married women bring less than one.” Male ♂ –Higher commitment to job –Maturity and responsibility –Primary breadwinner –More training, better promotion Female ♀ –Less time and energy on employment –Higher risk for employers –Secondary financial contributor –Less training, lower income

10. L17: 08.11.06

11. Suggested Readings: Wharton, Amy S. (2005) The Sociology of Gender: An Introduction to Theory and Research, Malden: Blackwell Publication, ch.6