Superwoman (sociology)
Encyclopedia
In sociology
the term superwoman has been used to describe a Western woman
who works hard to manage multiple roles of a worker, a homemaker, a volunteer, a student etc. It was first used by Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz, in her book The superwoman syndrome.
The term derived a number of expressions, such as superwoman syndrome, superwoman squeeze (a pressure on a superwoman to perform well in her multiple roles), and superwoman complex (an expectation of a superwoman that she can and should do everything).
The notion of "superwoman" differs from that of "career woman
" in that the latter one commonly includes sacrifice of the family life in favor of career, while a superwoman strives to excel in both.
American
society of 1970s-1980s, with the shift of the woman's traditional role of a housewife
towards more career-oriented way of life. This life involved the pursuit of both traditional female roles in the home and with children, as well as the pursuit of traditionally masculine
goals in the form of jobs and public social status
.
American feminist Betty Friedan
in her book The Second Stage
argues that "superwomanhood" of 1980s have in fact led to double enslavement of women, both at home and at work. Her advice for feminists was to step up to the "second stage" of the feminist movement and to struggle for reshaping of both gender role
s and redefining social values, styles, and institutional structures, for the fulfillment to be achievable in both public and private lives without the necessity to sacrifice one for another.
Parenting:
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
the term superwoman has been used to describe a Western woman
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
who works hard to manage multiple roles of a worker, a homemaker, a volunteer, a student etc. It was first used by Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz, in her book The superwoman syndrome.
The term derived a number of expressions, such as superwoman syndrome, superwoman squeeze (a pressure on a superwoman to perform well in her multiple roles), and superwoman complex (an expectation of a superwoman that she can and should do everything).
The notion of "superwoman" differs from that of "career woman
Career woman
is the term loosely used to describe the counterpart to the Japanese salaryman . In other words, a career woman is a Japanese woman who works for a salaried living. These Japanese women seek to either supplement their family's income through work or to remain independent by seeking a career as a...
" in that the latter one commonly includes sacrifice of the family life in favor of career, while a superwoman strives to excel in both.
Post second-wave feminism
The notion was first recognized in the post second-wave feminismSecond-wave feminism
The Feminist Movement, or the Women's Liberation Movement in the United States refers to a period of feminist activity which began during the early 1960s and lasted through the early 1990s....
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
society of 1970s-1980s, with the shift of the woman's traditional role of a housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...
towards more career-oriented way of life. This life involved the pursuit of both traditional female roles in the home and with children, as well as the pursuit of traditionally masculine
Masculine
Masculine or masculinity, normally refer to qualities positively associated with men.Masculine may also refer to:*Masculine , a grammatical gender*Masculine cadence, a final chord occurring on a strong beat in music...
goals in the form of jobs and public social status
Social status
In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society . It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group, for example son or daughter, playmate, pupil, etc....
.
American feminist Betty Friedan
Betty Friedan
Betty Friedan was an American writer, activist, and feminist.A leading figure in the Women's Movement in the United States, her 1963 book The Feminine Mystique is often credited with sparking the "second wave" of American feminism in the twentieth century...
in her book The Second Stage
The Second Stage
The Second Stage is a 1981 book by American feminist, activist and writer Betty Friedan, best known for her earlier book The Feminine Mystique....
argues that "superwomanhood" of 1980s have in fact led to double enslavement of women, both at home and at work. Her advice for feminists was to step up to the "second stage" of the feminist movement and to struggle for reshaping of both gender role
Gender role
Gender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and over time...
s and redefining social values, styles, and institutional structures, for the fulfillment to be achievable in both public and private lives without the necessity to sacrifice one for another.
See also
- Work-life balanceWork-life balanceWork–life balance is a broad concept including proper prioritizing between "work" on the one hand and "life" on the other. Related, though broader, terms include "lifestyle balance" and "life balance".-History:The work-leisure dichotomy was invented in the mid 1800s...
- WorkaholicWorkaholicA workaholic is a person who is addicted to work.The term generally implies that the person enjoys their work; it can also imply that they simply feel compelled to do it...
Parenting:
- Helicopter parentHelicopter parentHelicopter parent is a colloquial, early 21st-century term for a parent who pays extremely close attention to his or her child's or children's experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions. The term was originally coined by Foster W. Cline, M.D. and Jim Fay in their 1990 book...
- Slow parentingSlow parentingSlow parenting is a parenting style in which few activities are organised for children. Instead, they are allowed to explore the world at their own pace...
- Work at home parentWork at home parentA work at home parent is an entrepreneur who works from home and integrates parenting into his or her business activities. They are sometimes referred to as a WAHM or a WAHD ....