The Division of Labor in Dual-Earner Families. An Account of Two Families and Two Generations

Abstract

Within the contract of acute social transformations that have occu- rred since the onset of the crisis in the 1980s in Argentina, the traditional "single (male) earner" pattern has diminished, while the "dual- earner" pattern has increased. In the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, the respective figures were -23% and +68% between 1980 and 1994. This transformation calls into question the established values concerning the division of labor by gender in society. The research described in this article attempts to discover the extent to which Argentina is experiencing a Hòchschild-style " suspended revolution" òr the advent of Goldscheider and Waite-style "new families." Separate interviews With both members of couples in thirtyfive middle-class dual-earner families living in Buenos Aires were used to explore the division of labor between them in comparison with the prevailing pattern in their families of origin, in addition to their images and representations concerning gender, fatherhood and motherhood and the married couple. The results show that the division of labor has moved away from the traditional model of segregated roles towards a transitional rather than an egalitarian role. The inter-generational change was not equal in all spheres; fatherhood gained far more adepts than domesticity. In other words, males increased their participation in child care far more than in household labor, which continues to be defined as female. Women did not decrease their high participation in household tasks and motherhood, yet also made inroads into traditionally male household activities.