History of Gendered/Racial Work in the US

1. History of Gendered/Racial Work in the US

2. Agricultural Societies and Sexual Division of Labor • Labor for both sexes was Equally Valued • European American Women • Labor is entertwined. • Men were responsible for growing and grinding wheat. Women were responsible for turning wheat into food. Men were responsible for chopping wood, women responsible for turning it into fuel. Men grew food for trade. Women grew food for immediate consumption. • African American Women • Slave owners tried to reduce the sexual DOL so that slaves felt de-humanized. Slaves tried to recreate sexual DOL in the home when possible.

3. Agricultural Economies continued • Some Europeans Americans were not farmers but guild workers. • Wives worked alongside husbands, but were excluded from guilds (organized craft workers).

4. Pre-Industrialization and Sexual DOL • New technology ushered in value of: • Efficiency and High Productivity • Women were the first affected by this because: • Cottage industry, piecework • First factories employed women and children.

5. Industrialization and the Rise of Cult of True Womanhood • Domestic Code • Pious – bring men back from their errant way • Pure – not want sex, even after marriage. • Submissive – Do not become an intellectual. Rather, allow men to control you. Allow them to protect you. • Domestic – Clean, cook, care. • Be responsible for men’s problematic behavior • Read, 1950’s “How to Be a Good Wife.” • What do magazines/books say today?

6. Domestic Code and Gender/Race • Domestic Code Created: • Doctrine of Separate Spheres – Women’s proper place in the home. Men is to work. Keep the two separate. • In 1840, women and children made up 40% of industrial workforce • By 1870, 75% industrial workers were men (working women were predominantly single pg 20). • Created notion that men were strong and could handle stress of the world. • Also created Job Sex Segregation in the world of paid work • Protective Legislation

7. Domestic Code and Gender/Race • We often either study race or gender. Glenn argues this is problematic. Why? • Domestic Code helped Perpetuate Racism • Women of Color were not allowed to be “true women” regardless of class • Women of Color were kept from most industrial work. They were forced into dirty, heavy work • Women of Color were made to do the informal economic work that “true women” were not supposed to do.

8. Domestic Code and Gender/Race • The Domestic Code allowed: • White men to benefit because…. • White women to benefit because…. • Divisions among race/ethnicities because…. • Harm to Families of Color because…..

9. Market Work Today • Look at Chart on page 28-29. • Non paid work is still devalued in the US and internationally and women are more likely in informal sector and are also more responsible for non paid work.