s 1,2

economy

social gender

Unpaid Housework

August 25, 1995

Q: For the most part, women do the housework and child-rearing work in the family. This is generally demanding, but unrecognized and unpaid work, and it reduces women's scope for economic equality. In what ways will the Proutist society change this situation?

In the Proutist society there are four different ways in which this situation will be altered. First of all, the women in the Proutist society will not enjoy a lower status for doing domestic tasks, caring for children, raising the family, and taking care of the home. These are very important tasks and should be of equal standing with tasks done outside the home. So, first of all, there must be a moral change, a respect brought for the noble tasks involved in caring for a family. This is done through the development of social standing for women. Through this, those tasks that women are involved in that are essential to their lives, will gain higher status. The tasks of women have lower importance or significance because the status of women is so diminished. If the status of women is brought up, then the tasks which women do and value will have higher status in the society at large. You see, the goal is not to make women into men, but to change the values so that the interests, thoughts and activities which women engage in will have higher status and more significance.

The world is changing, becoming a place where diverse opinions, cultures, and backgrounds are accepted. There is an integration through enhanced communication which is occurring. The world is becoming interconnected. As this happens more and more, the values of patriarchy will collapse. They are dependent upon territorial differentiation, war and hierarchical systems. These things will become more and more irrelevant as humanity becomes more interrelated and interconnected. As one world society develops, the need for territorialism, posturing and war will fade. What will be needed is communication and interconnected, interwoven life styles. This need of society will bring up the status of women as the strengths of women lie in communication and in the development of family. These are qualities that are becoming more and more important in the society. As they do, the status of women will be shifting. The peacemakers will be valued, as well as those that can mother and nurture humanity rather than defend. So you see, the status of women will be changing on a planetary scale, and with this the value given to the interests of women will also be changed. So this is a moral issue first and foremost, and the solution does not lie in political spheres, but in the changing of fundamental attitudes.

Second point: In a Proutist society, no work will be insignificant, and the raising of children will have great importance. In addition, cottage industries for women should be encouraged so that they may work in the home while caring for the family. It should not be that a women is forced outside the home while her children are young and in need of her. This does not fit with an ideal society, because it does not meet basic human needs. The women should not be prevented from work, but she should not be torn from the children out of necessity. So in a Proutist society, there should be great encouragement for the cottage industries for the ladies with young children.

Now, third point: All of these industries, these cottage industries, and work from the home will be part of the collective or cooperative. So a women may work for the home producing a good rather than going into a company, but she would earn the income and be a member of a cooperative of that industry, though she would work independently in the home. If this is common practice who would think it strange? Why do all workers need to come to a given location, need to work certain hours? Let there be more freedom and adjustment to the lives of the people so the society meets the needs of the people and not the people meet the needs of the company.

So this may become widespread, this home working. Even for the men it may become more common. There may be small groups, living near by each other, working on given projects. Or the industry may be run from the home as part of the larger company or independently. In both cases there would be membership in a collective through which there would be voting rights and other privileges. There would be no lesser status for the home work than for working in industry or business.

In addition, some women may find that they cannot work at all. Tending the house and children are enough for them. Also, men may find themselves in this position for there are men also who, given the choice, would stay home with the family. Let us say, for some, the desire to work solely for family is greater than desire to work in a trade. For those people, there would also be a collective. They would also have membership and status in the society, and they would have voting privileges. If they are making a contribution of note, that must be taken into account and duly compensated.

Now, the fourth point is that, in a Proutist society, first and foremost is that human needs be met. The society must be built not to aggrandize the needs of a few and the passions of a few for power and position but to meet basic human needs. Do you know, the need for family, both central and extended, is a strong human need. People feel they require the shelter both in youth and in old age and even during the working years of family, friends and community. That is why there have been clans and extended families so that these human needs may be met. It is of no small importance, this need for a place among people, a status among those who are near and dear, a home with others. It is in the nature of the species to have this need. Therefore, society must protect and fulfill the needs of the people if it is to be viable. The role of women in keeping the home, tending the children, and creating the strong bonds of family is essential. It will gain greater status, and with that status will come a new emphasis on these family bonds. So you see, the raising of children, the tending of their care and education, may become a task that is prestigious. If the woman is contributing in the school, helping the children, doing various tasks in the community, this too should have status and recompense.

So you see, in a Proutist society there will be room for diversity in order to meet basic human needs. If the goal shifts from enhancing the power and prestige of a few to the meeting of human needs, then there will be a fundamental shift in outlook, and from that the way in which people work and what they value will change. So due to these four reasons, the role of women in the home will gain a very different status, and even men who wish to stay in the home will find a place.

This society will be more diverse. It will not require the work regimen presently existing. You see, so much goes at this stage to lining the pockets of a few and enhancing the prestige of the powerful that the needs of human beings go unfulfilled, and the resources of the planet are squandered. Therefore, in a society in which the needs of human beings are taken foremost, and the resources of the planet used with respect for the welfare of all, the very lifestyle of the human beings will change. There may not be the need for long work weeks and clusters of workers who must leave their community, their family and their home each day to march like soldiers to their posts. The society may begin to look very different from today's world.