Womens Participation in the Labor Market - Assignment Example

A woman’s real job is thought to be managing a household, and her contribution to the labor market is not acknowledged. Instead, she is expected to do it in addition to, if she can manage, her fundamental job at home. Thus, if a woman’s marital life gets disturbed and the husband is not ready to compromise, she should rather specialize in the household because this is what societal norms require of her.

Why have women been so eager to increase their participation in the labor market, and why have men been so reluctant to increase their participation in housework?
Women have always been underestimated by men that happen to be the stronger gender on physical grounds. There is no doubt in the fact that nature has vested delicacy in women as opposed to strength in men, though the lack of physical comparison has been misinterpreted by many men who also do not consider women brainy enough to compete with them in the labor market. On the other hand, the lack of physical strength equal to men has inculcated a desire in women to prove that things are different on other scales of comparison. Both of these factors have mutually ignited an urge in women to participate in the labor market. On the other hand, men show reluctance to participate in housework because housework does not accord with their natural taste, talent, and/or physical structure. Besides, activities like cooking, washing, and babysitting have been conventionally associated with women, and with time, women have developed competence in these works. Thus, housework is not consistent with the masculine nature and physique and also, men do not feel competent enough to do justice to the work involved therein.

What is a "bargaining approach" to decision-making? Why is this approach more realistic than the standard neoclassical model?
The conventional approach to decision-making about household expects the two partners to mutually work for the achievement of objectives of mutual interest. In such a neoclassical approach, the two individuals pool up their individualistic earnings in an attempt to enlarge the utility function of the neoclassical household which has the constraints of time and income. However, it is not very easy to achieve particularly when the two individuals have different utility functions. To settle things in such a case, the individuals refer to bargaining theory which allows differing utility functions and serves as a means of reconciliation. In the bargaining approach to decision-making, the two individuals share certain responsibilities like children’s services. Thus, the utility both individuals attain from the bargaining approach removes the differences and promotes reconciliation. Since it addresses the individualistic differences of utility, this is what makes the bargaining approach to decision-making more realistic as compared to the standard neoclassical approach. Read More