The everyday exploitation of women - Housework and the patriarchal mode of production

This paper explores the links between housework and women's subordination. It attempts to pull together a range of material -- theoretical, conceptual, and empirical -- in order to provide readers with a clear understanding of the issues involved. The paper draws strongly on the work of dual systems theorists and focuses, in particular, on the concept of the patriarchal mode of production. Empirical evidence of the existence of this mode of production, in both noncapitalist and capitalist societies, is explored. Despite significant cultural variation, a common theme emerges wherein the patriarchal mode of production systematically undermines women's standards of living while systematically enhancing those of men. Because the patriarchal mode of production is a social construct, however, it is clearly open not only to change but also to total overthrow. The prospects for the achievement of such an overthrow are assessed by focusing upon current trends in the gender division of housework.