Crossing and Transforming Occupational and Household Gendered Divisions of Labor Reviewing Literatures and Deconstructing Divisions

Abstract

In this chapter, I review and critique social research which explores micro-practices of gender transgressions and macro-level transformations of occupational and household divisions of labor. Today, “crossing over,” even blurring of hegemonic gendered occupational and relational boundaries occurs more frequently. Yet, it remains a problematic and complex social phenomenon even in the 21st century, particularly with respect to highly sex-typed forms of paid and unpaid work. This review of literatures examines occupational gender crossing and sex segregation studies as well as parallel research on gender violations and/or sex segregation in the division of household labor and marital breadwinning. Literature findings are organized around three discursive fields: sexuality, skill and competence, and inequality. Finally, a critique is offered of the centrality of micro-practices in reproducing sex-segregation, heteronormative and patriarchical bias embedded in these bodies of research as well as related lessons for social change. An intra-disciplinary agenda is also discussed for scholarship with respect to work, family, and difference.