Girls’ Family Labor in Low‐Income Households: A Decade of Qualitative Research

Abstract

This article analyzes a decade of qualitative research to identify and explore an overlooked survival strategy used in low‐income families: children's family labor. Defined as physical duties, caregiving, and household management responsibilities, children’s—most often girls’—family labor is posited as a critical source of support where low wages and absent adult caregivers leave children to take over essential, complex, and time‐consuming family demands. We argue that there are lost opportunities when children are detoured from childhood to do family labor and that an intergenerational transfer of poverty is associated with those losses.

Causal Effects of Parental Leave on Adolescents' Household Work

“…More specifically, Kotsadam and Finseraas (2011) find that couples with children born after the reform have fewer conflicts about household work and that they share household tasks more equally. 1 As among adults, female teenagers do more household work than their male counterparts (Brannen 1995;Gager et al 1999;Dodson and Dickert 2004). The family is important in shaping these conditions, partly as children inherit social norms and cultural beliefs from their parents (e.g., Farré and Vella 2007;Fernández 2007a;Guiso 2006;McHale et al 1999).…”

Nonstandard Schedules and Young Children’s Behavioral Outcomes Among Working Low‐Income Families

“…Research finds that low-income single mothers who work during nondaytime hours at times have to leave their children alone or with older siblings (Dodson & Dickert, 2004) or bring their children to work (Dodson & Bravo, 2005). Without the availability of children's fathers, other adults, or relatives to help care for children, it is likely that nonstandard shifts create a higher level of stress and complexity for single mothers managing child-care arrangements that could affect children's behavior.…”

Quality_Family Deployment: A New Perspective in Determining Priority Importance for Improving Work Performance in Organization

“…Grzywacz and Bass (2003) and Rogers and May (2003) have considered that independent attitudes is necessary to be excellent in the work performance. Dodson and Dickert (2004) have stated that the future challenge for the family members is not only to be successful at work but also in the married life. Also, they suggest that upholding to certain moral values should be emphasized in order to lead to happiness in the family.…”