Post 3

1. How have you personally experienced carework in your family?
In my family I have experienced carework. A few years ago my Nana lived with us, she has Alzheimer's. My mother and I took care of her, for a few years, but her condition worsened and we had to put her in a care facility. All of the care we gave her was for free because she was our mother and grandmother. Now, my sister recently had a baby, and I've helped care for him, free of charge, as her boyfriend told me I have to pay them to watch him, hilarious. Also growing up my mother was a stay at home mother for a couple years, and she did all of the raising children, cooking, cleaning, and maintaining of the household.

2. Reflect on the issues presented in the “Juggling Work and Care” and the efforts being made in the UK to address the problem created when large numbers of women enter the work force. How does society need to reconstruct their notions of the home as “women’s work”?

There is increasing numbers of women in the workforce, and an increased number of women working and also caring for families. The UK is making programs for parents who work and have families. A lot of companies are making hours of work flexible. The UK is making the family and work combining a new culture, putting the family first and more understanding employers. Society needs to do a lot of thing to reconstruct the notions of the home as woman's work. I think there is now more stay at home dads than ever, but there is still a stigma that women do all the home care and maintenance. Society needs to recognize that women's work is what keeps the economy going, and what keeps familes together. We need to hold the women's work with a high respect.