Gender, Work, Power and the Family

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that gender, work, power and the family are complicatedly intertwined. The author points out that cultural ideologies cause gender inequalities, which contribute to the maldistribution of power among family members. The paper relates that this maldistribution of power among family members influences their roles, rights and obligation resulting in women often being overloaded with their jobs and family obligations. The author believes that today's typical family life style and gender inequalities originated in the industrialization of the late-nineteenth century, which brought a new form of the family life and cultural ideologies. The paper contends that the valuation of women in the job market largely affects the valuation or position of women in their family because men's higher earning power gives more power to men and less power to women.

From the Paper:

"The women's struggle with their dual role and the men's persistent lack of interest and full participation in domestic work often overshadow their family lives. Some result in divorce and women usually take the custody of their children. However, many men are unwilling to support their ex-wives and children financially. Therefore, divorced single mothers suffer from financial burden and come to ask for the government welfare. According to Robert Scheer (1994), "the vast majority of welfare recipients are single mothers and their children"."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Lovern, B. (1994). Confessions of a welfare mom, pp. 81-87, Utne Reader, July-August 1994.
• Miura, N.( September 1, 2007) Personal communication (Interview)
• Newman, D.M. & Grauerholz, L. (2002). Sociology of Familes. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press.
• Rubin, L.B. (Eds.). ( 1992). Worlds of Pain. New York: Basic Books
• Scheer, R.(1994).Real Reform. pp. 84-85, Utne Reader, July-August 1994.

More papers on Gender, Work, Power and the Family:

• Term Paper # 134168 : "Women and Labor Discrimination"
• Persuasive Essay # 101718 : "Women, Work and Equality"
• Book Review # 101651 : "Women in Nazi Germany"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: