Assignment:
1. Read the following article:
Lachance-Grzela, M. & Bouchard, G. (2010). Why Do Women Do the Lion's Share of Housework? A Decade of Research. Sex Roles, 63(11), pp. 767-780.
a. Write a 3-2-1 report in the usual fashion.
2. [Analysis] Read at least the following articles on housework from the textbook (you may find it useful to read more, and/or to draw from material presented in the lectures):
• X.1 A Woman's Time (1911), p. 648
• X.2 "Mysterious Providence" (1866), pp. 649-650
• X.9 What the Boy can do at Home (1911), pp. 658-659
• X.12 "More Unhappy, More Unhealthy" (1893), pp. 664-665
• X.14 Making Woman's Work Easier (1918), pp. 667-668
In the article you were asked to read for Question 1, four main theories were advanced for the gendered division of housework:
• Relative Resources
• Time Availability
• Gender Ideology
• Macro-Level Factors
The reasons why women have historically done most of the housework are complicated. If you had to pick just ONE of the four theories to describe why Canadian women did most of the housework in the time period studied in this course (1850 to 1950), which would you choose, and why? Give at least one specific example from the textbook or lectures to back up your reasoning.
3. [T/F/Both and Why] The development of labor-saving technology for the home meant that Canadian housewives in the early 20th century (1900 - 1930) had a much lower burden of housework than Canadian housewives in the late 19th century (1870 - 1900).
You may wish to wait until after the last lecture on Housework (November 20) to answer this question.
True, False or Both?
Why?