The Second Shift

by Arlie Russell Hochschild

First published 1989

When Arlie Hochschild's groundbreaking study first hit shelves, it blew the lid off the "second shift" that working women were quietly shouldering at home. Weaving together intimate stories and incisive analysis, Hochschild reveals the hidden costs and uneven trade-offs that arise when women's professional lives clash with the demands of childcare and housework. As women's roles expand, their home lives remain mired in outdated norms and unequal distribution of labor - leaving many feeling depleted, frustrated, and impossibly stretched thin. Hochschild's vivid portraits shine a light on the profound personal and societal implications of this gender imbalance, igniting a vital conversation that continues to reverberate today.

Genres: 20th-century, gender-studies, sociology, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic

Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: social-commentary

Setting: United States

Period: 20th-century, 21st-century

315 pages · Paperback · Avon Books

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