<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Worldwide research has shown that women tend to devote a disproportionate amount of time to domestic labour that can be a barrier to gender equality and women's empowerment. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which women's role in unpaid domestic labour has an effect on their well-being and whether this presents a barrier to their empowerment or their ability ‘to do and be’ what they value. The study is based on ethnographic research in six rural villages located at the very north-eastern part of Croatia in Slavonia. This article draws on rural women's (and men's) accounts of their meanings and experiences in unpaid domestic labour. Pertaining to this labour, it also reviews their contribution as well as their lack of access to well-being in the family and wider community. Findings show that women's engagement in domestic labour has both positive and negative effects on their well-being, as well as that of their families and the wider community.</p></abstract>

Worldwide research has shown that women tend to devote a disproportionate amount of time to domestic labour that can be a barrier to gender equality and women's empowerment. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which women's role in unpaid domestic labour has an effect on their well-being and whether this presents a barrier to their empowerment or their ability ‘to do and be’ what they value. The study is based on ethnographic research in six rural villages located at the very north-eastern part of Croatia in Slavonia. This article draws on rural women's (and men's) accounts of their meanings and experiences in unpaid domestic labour. Pertaining to this labour, it also reviews their contribution as well as their lack of access to well-being in the family and wider community. Findings show that women's engagement in domestic labour has both positive and negative effects on their well-being, as well as that of their families and the wider community.

The Meanings and Experiences of Domestic Labour among Rural Women in Croatia

Eastern European Countryside

{"article-title":"The Meanings and Experiences of Domestic Labour among Rural Women in Croatia"}

Worldwide research has shown that women tend to devote a disproportionate amount of time to domestic labour that can be a barrier to gender equality and...

The Meanings and Experiences of Domestic Labour among Rural Women in Croatia

Published Online: Mar 25, 2012

Page range: 87 - 106

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10130-011-0005-0

Keywords
domestic labour, well-being, women, rural, Croatia

This content is open access.

The Meanings and Experiences of Domestic Labour among Rural Women in Croatia

Published Online: Mar 25, 2012

Page range: 87 - 106

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10130-011-0005-0

Keywordsdomestic labour, well-being, women, rural, Croatia

This content is open access.

Keywords
domestic labour, well-being, women, rural, Croatia