unrecognized, and undervalued. Women's ability to work is also constrained by social and cultural attitudes that restrict mobility, emphasize familial responsibilities, and ignore women's economic contribution to society. In most countries women work at least twice the number of hours as men at unpaid work. Women do more than three times as much child care as men. Also studies show that women spend 20 to 30 hours more unpaid housework a week than men do (Sivard, 2).Work is one of the most misunderstood facets of women's lives. Too many times it is believed that women are too delicate too as much work as men (Sapiro, 366). By the nineteenth century people began to think about homemaking as a vocation and occupation that should be professionalized. Homemaking was introduced as a subject of study at schools and universities. This lead to the question as to why if women could study in this area why not others (Sapiro, 372).Women are much less likely to leave the labor force when they have children. When they do leave it is for a much shorter time. Women are expected to work during the day to help pay for expenses. Then at night women take on the unpaid role of the homemaker (Sapiro, 382).Women are concentrated into many fewer occupations than men are. Women and men in the same general job classifications are segregated into different types of work with different status and pay. When men and women are found in the same sector, men are more concentrated in the positions of higher status and authority than women are (Sapiro, 384).Gender divisions of labor begin at a very young age. Male and female children at home are given jobs that correspond to adult divisions of labor. Girls tend to work with people while boys work with things. Educational institutions also help sort out workers into gender appropriate jobs (Sapiro, 390).Women may be increasing the amount of time they spend in employment, but they continue to earn considera...
