Reproductive labor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Reproductive labor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in discussions about work that involves caregiving, household tasks, and other forms of labor that support reproduction and family life. Example: "The value of reproductive labor is often overlooked in economic discussions, despite its crucial role in sustaining society."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

In such species, a few individuals do most if not all of the direct reproductive labor (e.g., queens), and many others are rendered reproductively sterile throughout all or much of their life (e.g., worker castes).

SEP

For decades, feminist scholars have studied how structures and policies shape reproductive labor.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As citizens with less clout, women often fall into the category of "weak agents," forced into marketing sexual and reproductive labor.

Stanford University

The question of housing can be properly answered only if we enter its political core that is, the organization of reproductive labor as the fundamental and yet largely invisible support of society.

Yale University

As Marx might have said had he deemed women's work worth including in his labor theory of value (he didn't), "reproductive labor" (as feminists call the creation and upkeep of families and homes) is the basis of the accumulation of human capital.

The New York Times

Her research focuses on the intersection of new technologies and reproductive labor, and her writings have appeared in Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, Gender and Society, Critical Social Policy, International Migration Review, Qualitative Sociology, Feminist Studies, the Indian Journal of Gender Studies, Reproductive BioMedicine, and in several edited volumes.

Columbia University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Similarly, within a transitional context, foreign brides are always associated with reproductive labors that are devalued as unpaid or low-paid jobs (Lan 2008b; Sheu 2007), even though more and more women participate in the labor market and some are even the real "breadwinners" of their families.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Rather than fighting for government programs that reflect the highly variable needs of women, we tell individual women that the responsible thing to do is undergo invasive surgery in order to secure reproductive labor--labor that will, through status quo social policy, make women vulnerable to structural discrimination.

Huffington Post

These recent developments will embolden conservative lawmakers to step up their attacks on both reproductive and labor rights, with detrimental impact on women and their families.

The Washington Post

In 2012, the United Nations Development Program ranked India 132nd out of 148 countries on the Gender Inequality Index (GII), a composite measure of reproductive health, labor market participation and political empowerment.

Princeton University

The Collaborative's members include nail salon workers and owners, non profit and community organizations focused on environmental and reproductive health/justice, labor and Asian American community health, educational institutions, and government agency allies.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Acknowledge the societal and economic implications of "reproductive labor", highlighting its often-overlooked value in sustaining communities and economies.

Common error

Avoid framing "reproductive labor" solely as a personal or familial responsibility. Recognize and articulate its significant economic impact and societal value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reproductive labor" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies and categorizes a specific type of work related to reproduction and maintenance of human life, as evidenced by Ludwig examples, which show its use in academic and sociological contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

Academia

30%

News & Media

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reproductive labor" is a noun phrase that refers to the often unpaid work required to maintain and reproduce the workforce, including childcare, household tasks, and elder care. Ludwig indicates that while grammatically correct, its usage is more common in academic, scientific, and news contexts. The phrase's primary function is to analyze the societal, economic, and political aspects of this type of labor. Understanding its nuances can help writers discuss gender inequalities and economic disparities with precision. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate for formal and scientific discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Care work

Focuses on the caring aspect of the labor involved.

Domestic labor

Emphasizes the household duties and tasks.

Unpaid work

Highlights the lack of monetary compensation for the labor.

Household management

Focuses on the organizational and managerial aspect.

Social reproduction

Emphasizes the societal impact of the labor.

Family care

Highlights the element of family and caring responsibilities.

Child rearing

Specifically refers to raising children.

Nurturing labor

Emphasizes the nurturing and supportive aspect of the labor.

Kin work

Highlights the work done to maintain familial relationships and connections.

Emotional labor

Focuses on the emotional effort involved in caregiving and domestic duties.

FAQs

What does "Reproductive labor" refer to?

"Reproductive labor" encompasses activities and services required to maintain and reproduce the workforce, including childcare, household tasks, and elder care.

Why is "Reproductive labor" often undervalued?

Because it's traditionally unpaid and performed within the domestic sphere, /s/reproductive+labor is often overlooked in economic analyses, despite its essential role in societal functioning.

How can I use "Reproductive labor" in a sentence?

You might say, "Feminist economists argue that the value of /s/reproductive+labor should be included in GDP calculations".

What are some alternatives to "Reproductive labor"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "care work", "domestic labor", or "social reproduction".