Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero!esl.com From: eem@esl.com (Eric McColm) Newsgroups: soc.feminism Subject: Re: Wages for Housework (was Re: Society's view) Message-ID: <362@esl.ESL.COM> Date: 30 Nov 90 03:15:32 GMT References: <658245246@lear.cs.duke.edu> <90Nov16.231745est.1712@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> <1990Nov26.041422.18180@iti.org> Sender: nadel@aerospace.aero.org Reply-To: ames!esl!stars!eem@ncar.UCAR.EDU (Eric McColm) Organization: ESL Inc., Sunnyvale, CA Lines: 30 Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org Status: R Many people have suggested stating dollar amounts for 'housework' over the years (i.e. 'domestic engineer') and according respect for the worker based on this wage. I think this misses the point. PRAGMATIC REASON: (as previously stated) Try it. You'll hate it. ROMANTIC REASON: That's not what housework is all about. Before you start flaming, consider that 'housework' is the portion of a division of labor between cohabitants that does not bring in new income. But as there is a division of labor, the 'houseworker' and the 'nonhouseworker' are partners. Their income is shared, as should be their respect derived from monetary terms. How they choose to divide the labor is their business. I sidestep the issue of respect based on money, which I think is carried too far in this society. My personal soapbox is that if the 'houseworker' is raising children, I cannot imagine a more (financially or socially) important occupation. But I've always been in favor of well-fed, well-educated, well-adjusted children. Perhaps the problem with the current outlook (including mine) is that there is a pervasive stereotype for what the division of labor SHOULD be. For all those who prefer to share a relationship with an SO, spouse or whatever, and had to divide the labor up yourselves, how would you do it? The two-income family clearly doesn't fit the stereotype of husband with distant job/wife in the house. -- This is NOT and Ada comment! -- And this is NOT the opinion of ESL! It may not be ANYONE'S opinion! Eric McColm eem@esl.com, which is 1 hop off ames.arc.nasa.gov