Graduation Year

2024

Date of Submission

4-2024

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)

Reader 1

Professor Adrienne Martin

Abstract

Does the gendered division of labor lead to exploitation? How does socialization contribute to women displaying excessive devotion that masks the exploitative arrangement? Society places expectations on how individuals of certain gender should behave, including what type of work they should be engaged in. Historically, women were perceived as the primary caretakers who operated in the private sphere. Even though the perception of gender has changed in the last couple of decades, gender norms are still prevalent and influence how household work is divided. Moreover, the institutions that make up the basic structure of society are built on the traditional gender divisions. They are the sources of the excessive devotion that is used by women to rationalize the exploitation present in relationships. The pervasive impact of institutions is far-reaching; regardless of the varying cultural contexts in which they are embedded, both in Poland and the USA, they exert a similar influence on the division of labor within the family. Different proximity and inclusion in these institutions impact the extent of exploitation, which is explored by examining the queer community, Black women in the US, and rural and urban women in Poland. The exploitation of the last two groups is rationalized differently at the societal level due to the varying narratives about the historical legacies of the institutions.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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