Housework Battles and Gender Strategies

Abstract

Chapter 6 argues that gender structure can be both constraining and enabling. On the one hand, gender ideology defines the “essential qualities” of both men and women, and thereby constrains the range of acceptable behavior. On the other hand, this ideology provides resources and rules for agents to organize their behavior. By exploring the micro-level processes of spousal negotiation, we can see couples “do gender” by employing different strategies in assuming or rejecting housework.

“Umm …I will avoid doing housework if I can. […] It’s very simple: just leave the clothes there. Men usually use this method. Just leave them there, untouched. That is to say, we have many dirty clothes. We put them into the washing bag, and it’s really full, but I still continue to stack the clothes on top.”

(Mr. Man, retail buyer, lower earning husband, 43)

When a woman is strong both in earning money and taking care of the house, a man won’t come to her aid. “She can do everything herself—why should I bother?” So maybe, I figured, I should act like a stupid pig! I said that I was horrible with numbers, [low voice] even though I used to ace my math exams. Now, I don’t need to bother with bills and receipts. For things that require brainpower, I do this [making helpless “puppy-dog” eyes], and (my husband) takes care of them. […] It did work that well!

(Mrs. Wu, nurse, lower earning wife, 36)