reproductive labor

USAGE SUMMARY

The term "reproductive labor" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to unpaid, informal labor tasks, such as childcare and household work, typically done by women. For example, "Women are disproportionately burdened by reproductive labor such as care for children and the elderly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 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

Finally, Chapter 5 traces a relocation of feminized bioeconomic tasks from ART and reproductive labor to stem cell technologies and their corresponding form of regenerative labor.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

She tells us that the state should "encourage and facilitate the equal sharing by men and women of paid and unpaid work, or productive and reproductive labor" (171).

SEP

These arrangements could include not only rights to abortion and contraception, but also rights to contract away parental bonds and to sell and buy gametes and reproductive labor.

SEP

Satz (1992) argues that there are limits to the objections based on an intimate connection between reproductive labor and our selves.

SEP

Moreover, the gendered norm of nanzhuwai and nüzhunei (men outside, women inside) not only confines women within the domestic sphere but also devalues women's reproductive labor (Lan 2008a, 2008b).

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 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

One of the hallmarks of insect societies is a reproductive division of labor, in which reproduction is strongly biased toward one or a handful of individuals in the colony (queens) whereas most other colony members (workers) are engaged in very little reproduction or remain sterile.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In addition to this reproductive division of labor, there is also an age-related worker division of labor, where individuals transition through a variety of tasks throughout their lifetime, and workers in these behavioral states have significant differences in physiological traits and brain gene expression [12] [19].

Plosone

In addition to a reproductive division of labor, non-reproductive workers in highly derived eusocial species also display a division of labor among adult workers who perform specialized colony tasks [ 4].

BMC Ecology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing economic systems, use "reproductive labor" to highlight the often-unseen and uncompensated contributions to societal well-being.

Common error

Avoid using "reproductive labor" interchangeably with "productive labor". "Reproductive labor" specifically refers to the unpaid work that sustains households and families, while "productive labor" refers to work done for wages.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reproductive labor" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific type of work, namely the unpaid tasks associated with maintaining households and families. As indicated by Ludwig, it is a correct and usable term in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reproductive labor" is a noun phrase referring to the unpaid work of maintaining households and families. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Predominantly used in scientific and academic contexts, the term serves to emphasize the economic and social importance of these often-overlooked activities. Related phrases include "care work" and "domestic labor", each carrying nuanced distinctions. When using the phrase, remember its specific meaning and avoid confusion with "productive labor". While the term appears in a variety of sources, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Huffington Post, and BMC publications are among the most frequent authoritative sources. It is "reproductive labor" and not nothing else.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

social reproduction

This refers to the broader societal processes that maintain and reproduce the social order, which includes labor.

care work

This alternative is broader, encompassing all forms of care, not just those related to reproduction.

family care

It explicitly focuses on caring for family members. Thus, it is more narrowly defined.

domestic labor

This term focuses on household tasks and maintenance, omitting the specific focus on reproduction.

kin care

This term broadens the scope to include care for relatives and extended family.

unpaid work

This emphasizes the lack of monetary compensation, applicable to many tasks beyond reproduction.

household management

This refers to the organization and maintenance of a home, without explicitly mentioning reproductive activities.

emotional labor

This involves managing one's emotions to fulfill job requirements; it is a related but distinct concept.

affective labor

Similar to emotional labor, this emphasizes the production of affect and emotional connections.

community care

This broadens the focus to encompass care provided within a community setting.

FAQs

How is "reproductive labor" typically divided in society?

Traditionally, "reproductive labor" has been disproportionately performed by women, often unpaid, within the household. This division of labor is increasingly challenged by calls for more equitable sharing of responsibilities.

What are some examples of tasks that fall under "reproductive labor"?

Examples of "reproductive labor" include childcare, elder care, cooking, cleaning, and other domestic tasks that maintain the household and support family members.

Why is "reproductive labor" often undervalued in economic analyses?

Reproductive labor is frequently unpaid and occurs within the private sphere, making it difficult to quantify and include in traditional economic models that primarily focus on market-based activities.

What's the difference between "social reproduction" and "reproductive labor"?

"Social reproduction" encompasses all activities that maintain and reproduce the social order, including education, healthcare, and cultural transmission. Reproductive labor is a subset of social reproduction, specifically referring to the tasks related to household maintenance and caregiving.