The North Texan, Volume 34, Number 4, Fall 1984 Page: 10

                                
HOUSE
SPOUSE
CHECK MATE?
TWO-INCOME FAMILIES
MUST LEARN TO SHARE
THE LOAD AT HOME
By Dr. Tommie Lawhon
Is there a difference between the expectations and the
performance of jobs within your family? Could you bene-
fit from a reallocation of household tasks? Are negative
feelings leading to conflict and strain? If the answer to
any of these questions is "yes," you and those who
live with you may benefit from a distribution of tasks
within the home.
Challenge and Change
A major change in American households is the expand-
ing role of females. Women reject the "either/or" choice
of gainful employment vs. home and are doing both.
Juggling competing demands is a challenge and can be
stressful.
Since 1950, the number of gainfully employed moth-
ers has almost tripled. In nearly 6 million homes, wives
earn more than their husbands. In addition, about 15.5
percent of families are now headed by women. The full-
time homemaker-wife-mother represents 12 percent or
less of American households.
What impact has the increasing number of women
entering the work force had upon traditional family roles
or the shift of chores relating to the care of the home
and the family? Recent research findings basically agree
with earlier findings in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s.
Conclusions continue to reflect that when wives become
employed outside the house, they have in essence taken
on a second job. Ample opportunities exist for dual-
earner couples to have conflict relating to the division
of household tasks and child care.
Many families are making changes to relieve part of
the home work for the employed woman by sharing and/or
completing tasks on a predictable basis. This helps in
the successful integration of gainful employment with
home and family life.
A couple may become upset over radical changes in
role expectations and role performances. The compatibili-
ty of performances and expectations has an effect upon
those living together. Roles and associated norms relat-
ing to home management are learned at an early age
through informal and formal education. These attitudes
are internalized and determine behavior. Feelings aroused
and reflected through verbal and nonverbal behavior indi-
cate whether or not housework is executed as anticipated.
When roles relating to home and family are accomplished
as expected, the feelings are more likely to be positive;
when not, feelings may be negative and lead to conflict
and stress.
The Evaluation
Behaviors and attitudes regarding home management
can be strengthened, modified or changed through con-
scientious effort. This effort is especially important to
couples entering marriage, to those where the wife is
gainfully employed, to families with children and in sin-
gle parent households.
The instrument "How Do You Help In The Family"
provides a fast and easy way to recognize 104 tasks
performed in managing the home. It also serves as a
10
method for expressing feelings relating to the perceived
stress associated with work. Tasks are organized into
10 categories: kitchen management, residential manage-
ment, maintenance, clothing management, family records
and finances, transportation, parental responsibilities, fami-
ly health, philosophy, social life and leisure, and pet
and other animal care. Responses are made by circling
the number which indicates the person who usually shares
or completes each task: (1) mom/wife, (2) dad/husband,
(3) children, (4) other and (5) inapplicable. These num-
bers can represent anyone in any living arrangement and
may be modified depending upon the group and individu-
als within the group.
Family members with a fourth grade reading level
can fill out a self-evaluation, "How Do You Help In
The Family?" The test accompanies this article. An adult
may need to assist younger children. After circling the
numbers, total each column to see who is completing
and sharing tasks. Then respond to questions A, B and
C. Answers to these three questions will aid in individual
and family decision making. Communication between
family members can be facilitated by recognizing the:
• disagreements in responses regarding the sharing or
completion of tasks,
• responsibilities where stressful feelings are reflect-
ed and
• tasks that one would like to exchange or give to
another.
The findings are also useful for a private evaluation of
personal responsibilities and feelings.
Conclusion
Attitudes regarding home and family management that
were prevalent before women entered the labor force do
not work well today. For example, women, whether or
not gainfully employed, tend to do most of the tasks
related to the household. Employed wives tend to get
less sleep than non-employed wives and they are also
more likely to report feelings of fatigue and irritability.
Women are also more likely to file for divorce and to
run away from home.
An evaluation, followed by a reallocation of the divi-
sion of labor in the home, can avert overload for house-
hold members. It can also enhance self esteem and
relationships by avoiding or lowering the negative atti-
tudes aroused when one has the feeling of being "taken
advantage of' or "used."
"How Do You Help In The Family?" is useful in
securing information and in enhancing communication
patterns. When tasks are performed as expected, adjust-
ments are easier; when not, conflicts and strain result.
Changes must take place in many households if the
dual-earner couple is to survive. One place to begin is
with family members assuming chores and completing
them with a healthy, pleasing attitude.
In an equal opportunity home, responsibilities are shared
by everyone who is capable of participating in the work.
The quality of home life can be improved by individu-
als who care enough to change stereotypic expectations,
attitudes and behaviors that restrict the talents of other
members of the household.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr. Tommie Lawhon of the School
of Home Economics says men normally are pretty vocal
after hearing her talk about divisions of labor in the
home. Most, she says, comment they "didn't know there
were so many jobs to be taken care of at home.'' Con-
tact Dr. Lawhon at the NTSU School of Home Econom-
ics for information on task-sharing programs.
The North Texan