I think you mentioned in passing in your response to someone's comment - but now there's been a lag between when I read it and when I'm writing, and I'm too lazy to re-read everything, so I may be repeating something you've said.
(Huh?) Anyway - I think about several aspects of this, of course, a lot, in terms of caretaking (of parents, in my case). Mostly, of course, the unpaid and invisible nature of the work, but additionally, the fact that it is so gendered. And the fact that it's "feminine" work is, of course, connected to the fact that it's unpaid and invisible. And unsupported for the most part by the economic and social structure in other ways (e.g., in addition to being unpaid, it's only possible for those in relatively privileged situations to take time from paid work to do it).
The patriarchy drives me nuts. It's not about whether it's OK for women to get married, or have children, or whether it's easier or better to stay single; it's the way that patriarchy (and our particular patriarchy) defines and the range of what all of those choices can be, and can provide.
no subject
(Huh?) Anyway - I think about several aspects of this, of course, a lot, in terms of caretaking (of parents, in my case). Mostly, of course, the unpaid and invisible nature of the work, but additionally, the fact that it is so gendered. And the fact that it's "feminine" work is, of course, connected to the fact that it's unpaid and invisible. And unsupported for the most part by the economic and social structure in other ways (e.g., in addition to being unpaid, it's only possible for those in relatively privileged situations to take time from paid work to do it).
The patriarchy drives me nuts. It's not about whether it's OK for women to get married, or have children, or whether it's easier or better to stay single; it's the way that patriarchy (and our particular patriarchy) defines and the range of what all of those choices can be, and can provide.