One’s gender is among the primary factors that influence their experiences. In general, compared to males, females encounter hardships and face higher expectations. How tasks are assigned in the home is among the areas where the impact of gender is seen. In many cases, women are expected to perform such tasks as laundry and taking care of the children. While this is changing and more men are playing a more central role, women still perform a bulk of the domestic tasks. This is in addition to pursuing their careers.
I have personally witnessed the second shift. Essentially, the second shift refers to a situation where after coming home from work, women are still expected to perform domestic chores (Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, 2016). This expectation imposes a strain on the women as they are forced to balance between the demands of their job and their responsibilities at home. I remember growing up and my mother would ensure that all our needs are addressed. She did this faithfully despite working for eight hours. On the other hand, whereas my father assisted, it was occasional. I believe that my experiences are not unique. Across the globe, women continue to serve in the home while exceling in the workplace. Personally, I feel that this is indeed remarkable and commendable.
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The second shift represents gendered tendencies that have implications for men and women. On the one hand, these tendencies cause women to endure immense pressure as they strive to be excellent employees without abandoning their duties as mothers and wives (Fixmer-Oraiz & Wood, 2019). On the other hand, for men, these tendencies allow them to experience privilege. The men are not subject to the same standards that women are required to meet. For example, in general, society expects women to perform house chores while it forgives men for failing to lend support. However, it is worth noting that there are some workplace issues that present challenges for men. For instance, many employees do not extend paternity leave. As a result, it is difficult for men to commit fully to their fatherly responsibilities (Fixmer-Oraiz & Wood, 2019). The tendencies could also strain relations among couples and parents. For example, a woman could become resentful when she performs all domestic chores despite performing a job that is as demanding as her husband’s.
The roles that men and women perform in the workplace and at home mirror power dynamics and relationships. Essentially, these roles highlight the weakness and powerlessness of women. The workplace was designed for men and little has been done to make it more accommodating and friendlier to female employees (Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, 2016). Since they lack power, women are unable to push for reforms. Personally, I think that the expectations that society imposes on both men and women are responsible for the gendered behavior seen in the home and workplace. For instance, in many societies, girls are prepared for adulthood through exposure to domestic chores. It is therefore little wonder that this expectation is still imposed even in adulthood. In closing, in order to create fairer and more equitable communities, there is a need for society to change its views regarding gender roles and behavior.
References
Fixmer-Oraiz, N., & Wood, J. T. (2019). Gendered lives. Communication, gender, & culture. Boston: Cengage.
Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality. (2016). The second shift: Arlie Hochschild. YouTube. Retrieved October 16, 2019 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvzE6zYkEQY
