(CSF1a) Families I

This session features research on “the family” or family relations in relation to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Tags: Equality and Inequality, Parenting And Families, Work And Professions

Organizer: Amber Gazso, University of the Fraser Valley; Chair: Amber Gazso, University of the Fraser Valley

Presentations

Kamila Kolpashnikova, Western University

Gender Dynamics in Domestic Labour: Understanding Housework Distribution Among Older Couples in South Korea

Our paper examines the interplay between different family models and the allocation of domestic chores among senior couples. We use data from the 2019 Korean Time Use Survey to investigate the proportion of housework undertaken by wives in four distinct family models: dual-income, traditional (with the husband as the sole earner), wife as the primary earner, and retired couples, where at least one partner was 65 years old or older (analytic sample size: 1,564). The findings reveal a consistent pattern of uneven housework distribution in senior couples, with wives contributing over 70% of total domestic chores in every family model. Notably, in families where the wife is the breadwinner, her share of housework was markedly less compared to dual-income households. This suggests that retired husbands, in scenarios where their wives are still employed, allocate a portion of their leisure time to household duties. The study also highlights that economic factors, such as income, and gender ideologies have a marginal impact on the division of housework among senior couples. In contrast, health stands out as a significant factor in how retired couples divide domestic responsibilities. Partners in these couples tend to undertake more household chores when their significant others report poor health.

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Non-presenting author: Seung-Eun Cha, Suwon

Oluwatobi Alabi, University of Johannesburg

Kayan mata, sex, and sexuality in Nigeria: theoretical implications

As anecdotal narratives surrounding the motivation for women’s use of kayan mata products spark conversations across social media platforms in Nigeria, it has also become an important debate in the sociology of intimate relationships and sexuality. This paper discusses how women use kayan mata as a multifaceted tool for navigating complex patriarchal spaces and structures. Through a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews were conducted with women who use kayan mata, men who have insight into womens use of kayan mata, and sellers of the aphrodisiac to understand its varieties, motivations, implications for intimacy, intimate relationships, and family dynamics. Using the conceptual lens of snail-sense feminism, which argues that women have employed a variety of strategies to navigate limiting terrains and challenge gender norms across cultures in Africa, I argue that kayan mata is a significant tool in the politics of intimate relationships within Nigeria. Findings indicate that women strategically employ kayan mata in marriages and intimate relationships to negotiate power and resources. This paper critiques the concept of dangerous women associated with kayan mata. It discusses ‘mens fears of losing control’ and its perceived threat to hegemonic masculinity. The arguments carefully presented point to ambivalence in agency conceptualization, where empowerment initially means fulfilling mens desires, but later evolves into a means of asserting control within relationships. Even though kayan mata has gained popularity, its secretive nature raises concerns in intimate relationships.