Women's Invisible Work

By E. A. Cebotarev

LE TRAVAIL INVISIBLE DES FEMMES

Le travail fait dans le cadre de l'économie formelle ne reflète qu'une image partielle de l'ensemble des activités économiques En fait, toute l'économie formelle est sous-tendue par une quantité considérable de travaux qui n'ont pas d'existence officielle et qui sont effectués par des femmes et des hommes, sans rémunération, à domicile ou au sein de la communauté, dans les sphères dites "non-formelles", où il peut y avoir ou non des transactions financières, mais qui sont exclues du système économique national.

Étant donné que la plupart des travaux non-payés sont effectués par des femmes plutôt que par des hommes, ce bref article présente une classification de ces travaux, faits par les femmes. La classification n'est nullement exhaustive mais regroupe les principales catégories du travail "invisible" des femmes.

Le travail a la maison comprend la production de biens et de services pour la consommation familiale, pour la vente directe, ou pour le travail industriel à la pièce. La sphère informelle inclut les travaux non-payés ou minimalement payés faits dans les entreprises et dans les fermes familiales, ou par les travailleurs indépendants et par les petits commerçants. Le salaire de ces gens sert à compléter un revenu familial insuffisant. L'autre catégorie de travail non-rémunéré est le travail volontaire, dont parle également cet article.

Introduction

Work carried out in the formal economy gives only a partial picture of all the economically significant activities performed in a society. In fact. the formal economy is buttressed by a large amount of unaccounted for work, carried out by women and men, without pay, in their homes or communities or in the "informal" sphere, where money transactions may take place, but do not enter into national economic accounting.

Of course, many will argue that unpaid work is "unproductive". The dilemma of sorting out various activities from "productive work" in the non-market sphere, is not an easy one. I like to use the criterion proposed over 50 years ago by a home economist. Margaret H. Reed maintained that any activity culminating in a service or product which one can buy or hire someone else to do, is an economic activity (i.e. "productive work) even if pay is not involved.

The readers can judge for themselves which of their unpaid activities qualify to be considered significant work.

Since unpaid work is much more apt to be performed by women than by men, this brief article presents a classification of this work, as carried out by women. It is not an exhaustive classification, but it covers the main types of women's "invisible" work.

Work in the Home

1. Household Production

This work involves the production of goods and services for family and household consumption. The characteristic feature of this work is that its fruits are consumed by family members without any monetary transaction. Therefore, the work is economically invisible. Yet, it is essential work for human survival and it includes such activities as meeting physiological, psychological and social needs of family members. In developing countries, it may involve carrying water, wood and produce. The quality of the home-produced goods and services directly affects the health, welfare and happiness of family members and their capacity to work, and represents a source of family savings.

At least as many women as there are households in the world are involved in this work which in recent years has become recognized for its contribution to the familial and national economy.