From Marriage to the Market

In Susan Thistle’s From Marriage to Work Thistle analyzes the role of both White and African American woman in the work force. She discuses the hierarchy of financial power by creating a totem pole with white men at the top and black women at the bottom. Though white women might seem to go before black woman it is apparent that men, both White and Black, controlled the lives of their wives. It has always been socially expected no matter what the woman’s financial contribution was for them to have the responsibility of domestic chores and childcare. She goes over different historical events and the changes in our economy and what roles women played in that; briefly discussing WWII’s affect on the roles that had previously confined women to domestic work and its dramatic change. Though she discusses women’s roles an their similarities across the country she makes it clear that there that African American women and White women had different difficulties balancing domestic tasks with paid work. Though the market began to boom and women had a more active role these domestic tasks did not increase. The most prevalent example of race is used in the explanation of Black women’s responsibilities in slavery and even their access to tools and appliances to make things easier.

She goes on to further discuss the impact of certain tecnological advances. Impacting society both positively and negatively ultimately linking it to the “reproductive side of women’s labor. Though the idea of working women becomes more comfortable it becomes apparent that the more women contributed tension grew because of the men’s insecurity about their own personal contributions to the family. Many women even began to postpone starting families to avoid the conflict. As time progresses women’s domestic abilities are no longer the main sought out quality for marriage and true love becomes the most important thing.

In Davis’ Wives and Work he goes in detail about the Sex Role Revolution. He right off the bat highlights the changes between parental and marital relations through the increase of women in the workplace. His data on higher developed countries correlation with women in the work force in my opinion suggests the progression and open mindedness of these places such as the US. He further researches this by studying age, finding that in an increase in women goes hand in hand with the trend of less elderly people working ultimately figuring out that most women work during their “prime reproductive stage.” It is evident that the creation of childcare has played a major role in allowing women to be actively participating in the work force. He goes back to the Industrial Revolution and its initial dependence on the work each family members contribution to the household. Eventually turning into a development of machinery and goods and increasing the economy. What Davis does not deny changing over time is the dual responsibility of women at home and work. He connects divorce rates to women’s new role, which ultimately makes sense because of the newfound independence and financial security.

Women as Fathers:

 

 This article differs from the previous ones because unlike the other ones it describes the roles of motherhood are ones that scientifically exist as opposed to being taken on. It discuss’ societies focus on the father due to the patriarchal society we come from. It all really starts form day one when children take their fathers last name and claim it as their own despite the fact that the mother just held the child for the past 9 months going through constant ups and downs, pain, and emotion.  Rothman argues despite the assumption that both parties are tied (genetically) with their children she says that it is not that way at all. She thinks that with that 9 month relationship inherently creates a stronger relationship. She questions technologies role in disturbing this connection with ideas such as surrogate mothers that take away from the genetic bond that occurs between a child and its mother with things such as nanny’s and childcare taking away from it. I do not necessarily agree with her views simply because I do not necessarily think it is as genetic as it a social issue. In all the readings we have done women have always been the nurturers and though I do not disregard that there is a connection grown in that 9 months I think many times even in this day age men and women put themselves into the mindset that men are financial providers and women provide emotionally.