"The sexual division of labor and work- family conflict"

This brief reading offers a large amount of facts and figures to offer a very accurate and thorough definition of the work- family conflict, as the title suggests. The author relies of research and studies from a wide range of sources to present their clam, which is the hard data that the average reader would need to be convinced. For it is quite obvious this reading was intended to be written for the general consumer, and not someone with much specific knowledge into the topic. Since the article spends a good amount of time presenting the problem, there are little suggestions or solutions made. Choosing to end the article before the author's conclusion will easily facilitate a well-informed discussion on the topic in any situation. - L.P.

In their article, "Sexual Division of Labor and Work-Family Conflict", Irene Padavic and Barbara Reskin touch on many problems American families experience in terms of division of labor and child-care.   The writers explain that even though Americans are making strides towards equality for women in the workplace and at home, much still needs to be done to bridge the gap of gender injustices.   The article reveals that 60% of women are sharing the role of family breadwinner with their husband, which is an impressive increase from the mid-1900s, but these women still hold more domestic responsibilities.   In most American families, women, more than men, feel the brunt of a double day.   Padavic and Reskin investigate the issue not only on a national level, but globally as well.   It appears that Americans have differing values in regards to work and family.   Many countries around the world, especially in Europe, feel that work and family are public matters and should receive governmental attention and aid.   In America, however, work and family are very private and such issues stay out of most workplaces.   Examining these areas of discussion can cause one to question whether America's ideal of keeping families a private matter has allowed them to excel and dominate the business world.   -KM

Irene Padavic and Barbara Reskin's article "Gendered Work" focuses on how usual it is for sex and gender differentiation to exist in all types of work around the world.   The article shows that in almost every society, women and men must do different types of work.   The writers explain that the sex of the person doing a specific job may differ depending on times and locations.   They clarify that as long as the sexes are doing different work, the actual jobs do not matter.     Padavic and Reskin use the example of doctors to show how different places do not have the same sex completing the same jobs.   They explain that in the United States doctors are mostly male, but doctors in Estonia are mostly female.   The writers go on to prove that females are undervalued in the workplace.   Using the same example, they explain that doctors in the U.S. receive a very high income, where as doctors in Estonia receive an average income.   Also showing further differentiation in work between women and men, Padavic and Reskin explain that work programs for women focus on appearance and family, while programs for men are more geared towards promotions.   Using several examples from around the world and throughout history, Padavic and Reskin successfully show that work is gendered. -KM

This chapter explores the division of labor between the genders.   It states that men do more housework in the United States than they have previously, but that women still do twice as much.   It analyzes the amounts of time spent on housework between women and men, and the percentage of time men spend compared to time collectively.   The author says that the government, or other reigning force, only comes in to assist when there is a serious problem.   The chapter explores ways to solve individual problems in housework and child care.   The chapter shows statistics on employer assistance for child care, as well as explores help employers give, such as flexible scheduling, and comparison of maternity leaves allotted based on country.   The US is shown to be ranked equal to the two other shortest terms out of all countries compared.   It ends by saying, "the steady growth of women in the labor force... has meant that contemporary women and men experience this conflict in the form of time shortages, scheduling problems, and work-family spillover.   Employers and governments have taken some initiative in providing benefits that help," but in the US the conflicts are "resolved at the individual level." -K.G.