Gender equality

Gender equality in The Family

Gender equality in politics, employment, or other areas will not be possible unless there is also equality in relationships. Gender division of labor is based on the stereotypical dichotomy (separation) of the public and private spheres.

The public sector is represented by paid work, power, politics, and rationality, and it is represented by men.

The private sector is an area of care, unpaid work, emotionality and relationships and is represented by women.

Simply, it is possible to talk about the relationship between the breadwinner and housekeeper. Such a division of labour means that women are responsible for the households, household chores, child and other family members’ care and men represent the family to the outside and are responsible for economic stability and have decision-making powers - man is the "head of the family".

Despite the fact that nowadays many men are involved in housework and childcare, it is still commonly said that men “help” in the household more than they take care of the household. This division of public and private sectors persists at a symbolic but also at a real level. This reality has the effect that on the one hand, women are forced to bear a double or triple load (work and household care, possibly child and elderly parents’ care).

This reality, however, affects not only those women who actually bear this burden, but also women who do not face that (single women, women living in equal relationships, where a fair division of labour between the partners is a fact). Employers and wider society presupposes that women will never prioritize jobs and careers but will always put family and relationships first.

On the other hand, negative impacts of the dichotomy of public and private sphere also affect men - especially those who are interested in participating fully in family life. Neither the employers nor even broader surroundings and society in general support such men. Despite formally declared efforts to promote responsible fatherhood, men are often limited especially in childcare.

It is as if society did not count on the possibility that a man would be fully devoted to child care. Also, the fact of the lower income of women compared to men exposes couples to pressures in deciding who will stay on parental leave. If a family has to decide whose income to give up, in the vast majority it decides to give up, for practical reasons, the income of the mother, which is usually lower than the income of the father.

Options for politics to promote gender equality in the family are diverse. Particularly the complex of supportive actions aimed at the reconciliation of working and private life. In most cases, these actions are directed to promote women's employment through programs for mothers, but not to support fathers.

This area also offers room for greater Gender equality.

Task

Carry out a survey in your household and find answers to the following questions:

• How many hours a day do women and how many hours a day do men devote to housework in your household?
• How many hours a day do women and how many hours a day do men devote to childcare in your household?
• How many hours a day do women and how many hours a day do men devote to fun in your household?
• How many hours a day do women and how many hours a day do men devote to hobbies in your household?
• How much do women and how much do men earn in your household?
• How do you explain your findings?
• How could more equality in the family be achieved?