Rationalizing Foodwork at Home

A Qualitative Study of Coping Strategies and Social Stratification among Working Women with Children

Abstract

This study examines the meaning of foodwork performed by working women with children, in the context of increased participation of women in the workforce and stratification between career and non-career women, focusing on the “norms of home cooking.” The main research questions are: （i）How do working women with children rationalize their role in foodwork at home?（ii）How do factors such as work hours/employment, occupation, education, and household income influence their perception of the “norms of home cooking?” We collected data using interviews, observations, and photos of family meals taken by the respondents.

The results showed that most respondents considered their children most important while feeding the family. They tended to explicitly classify foodwork as a “motherʼs role,” which highlights a gendered division of labor. We observed “childcenteredness” in these womenʼs thoughts and foodwork.

Second, the perception of the “norms of home cooking” was related to work hours/employment and occupation. Respondents who worked part-time to support household income and considered it a part of the motherʼs role positively perceived the connection between “home cooking and love.” However, respondents who worked full-time with regular employment and/or as care workers were critical of the connection. Moreover, we observed that coping strategies for foodwork differed depending on household income. Those with higher household income tended to purchase services and healthy finished products to save time.

Therefore, we observed that “norms of home cooking” may diminish further among career women as social stratification increases due to the “promotion of active participation of women” in the workforce. However, foodwork continues to contribute to the oppression of those women who work part-time and/or are a single parent.