Abstract
Statement of the Problem
With World War II came the first significant wave of middle/upper-class, married women entering the public sphere/the workforce (Lockhart & Pergande, 2001). Before World War II, married women were expected to operate primarily in the private sphere (focus on and take care of everything within the home and everything that involved the children), and for men to run principally in the public sphere (work outside the house to financially provide for the woman/family). Men and women were essentially operating in silos. With men being sent to war, the women were called to the labor force to keep the country running. Women took to these new public roles and were highly successful in them. After World War II, however, men returned from war and reclaimed their spot in the public sphere, which caused most women to go back to the private sphere (O’Kelly & Carney, 1986).
As time passed, more and more married women broke out of their silo and into the public sphere, however. The reasons for women entering the public sphere vary but could usually fall into one of the following categories: personal, financial, or professional. For example, some women enter the public sphere out of necessity; supporting a family on just one income has become more challenging. Whereas other women may enter the public sphere for personal reasons, they may enjoy a break from household/childcare duties and find it personally fulfilling to work outside the home. Still, other women chose to work outside the house to advance professionally. Whatever the reason, as women venture from the private to the public sphere, they typically continue to care for the private sphere. Due to this second shift, estimates say that women work roughly 15 hours longer each week than men (Hochschild & Machung, 2003). These extra household/childcare work hours cause a time strain on women, and this time strain has many adverse side effects, including more stress, more anxiety, less sleep, less leisure, and more illnesses (Hochschild & Machung, 2003).
Mothers are now more present in the workforce than ever (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), the “employment rate for married mothers increased by 1.8 percentage points to 71.1 percent, and the rate for mothers with other marital statuses rose by 1.6 percentage points to 76.9 percent” (para. 10). In 2000, Coltrane published his household labor research. He reviewed over 200 scholarly articles and books published between 1989 and 1999. Coltrane found that while women are doing less household work and men are doing more, women are still doing at least twice as much as men (2000). Not only are women, according to these numbers, still completing more of the housework, but they are also not spending time on themselves. Studies have shown that the lopsided household/childcare workload adds to the time constraint mothers experience, resulting in less self-care and leisure time (Currie, 2004). Mothers are overloaded, negatively affecting their quality of life and that of their employers, spouses/partners, children, and family/friends.
Sources of Data
Data from the 68 mothers was collected via an online survey. Two different types of data were collected and analyzed. The first type of data were 21 questions based off a seven-point Likert scale which sought participant feedback regarding who does which childcare/household task in the participant’s household and overall life satisfaction. The second type of data were six open-ended questions where the participant provided additional detail regarding how childcare/household duties were assigned in their household and the effects of that workload on other areas of the participant’s life.
Conclusions Reached
This study revealed three takeaways. First, women are exhausted, fed up with doing everything, and want help. For example, Participant #6, a married Caucasian woman aged 30-39 with three children, said, “Men can be lazy pieces of shit.” Participant #52, a married Caucasian woman aged 40-49 with three children, said, “I desperately need help with house cleaning. I can do the rest but absolutely cannot keep up with the house cleaning.” Most participants mentioned being tired, overworked, or exhausted at least once in their open-ended survey responses.
The second takeaway is that these participants do not want to place any expectations on other women. Many participants discussed doing what “works for you and your family.” These mothers did not want to add additional societal pressures on other tired mothers. For example, Participant #29, a married African American/Black woman aged 30-39 with four children, said, “Do what works for your family but be ok with asking for help/sharing your preferences. It may not always be even, but remember to express appreciation for what you both contribute. Raising a family isn’t easy.” Participant #57, a married Caucasian woman aged 30-39 with two children, echoed these sentiments when she said, “Don’t do what works for everyone else; only do what works for you and your husband/spouse/family. Have clear communication with your partner.” Our study participants supported other women making decisions based on their families.
The third takeaway was for women to be self-sufficient. It was clear that the participants stressed being independent women. For example. Participant #1, a married Caucasian woman aged 30-39 with four children, said, “Make sure that you have your own ability to support yourself before getting married and relying on another person to complete your life.” Participant #21, a married Caucasian woman aged 40-49 with two children, stressed this independence when she said, “Start your career and become financially able to take care of yourself first.”
In conclusion, these participants want to see some changes. They want more help, for society to stop placing expectations on them, and for independence from their spouse/partner.