Women taking up employment : - A sociological gender-study on Argentinean women's way towards emancipation

Abstract: This study in sociology is the result of a MFS-project, sponsored by SIDA. The ideal in Argentina, at least for the upper classes, has for a long time been the man as bread-winner, the one who supports the family and the woman as the home-maker, the one who stays at home, taking care of house and children. Working-class women have always been working even though it has not been shown in the statistics. This feminist study in sociology is about what influence Argentinean women in their way towards emancipation but also about patriarchy as their biggest obstacle. The study is based on theories based on that in the world there is a world-order controlled by men. Another important theory is that it is easier for working women to reach emancipation in comparison with house-wives, because working women develop themselves in an economic as well as on a personal level. Additionally I went to the field in the Buenos-Aires area in Argentina during October until November 2000 where I did eleven interviews with Argentinean working mothers. I want to emphasize that as the interviews are eight years old, I have chosen not to integrate them very much through the essay, but instead showing them in a special chapter. I have, therefore, not given the interviews a central role in the essay. Instead, I emphasize the theories in the essay. The method I am using is qualitative method, with deep-interviews, the hermeneutic method and of course comparing theories from other authors. The conclusions I have come up with mean that the post-modern feminism is an important tool to understand the diversity of women and womens´ different conditions around the world. By realising these differences it would become easier to challenge the widespread patriarchy in Argentina. Argentinean women could reach emancipation by labour work and education that contribute to development on an economic and on a personal level. Even doing a voluntary work would contribute to this self-esteem and consciousness that are crucial for women on their way towards emancipation.