Gender and State Questions from: "Women, Gender, and the State"

When considering the physical and emotional pains of childbirth and postpartum stresses, roughly 18 years of ending emotional support for probably at least one child, some three meals a day for her husband and that one child, countless loads of laundry, and an infitine number of shelves dusted, floors vacuumed, and beds made, how much should women be paid for the work they do for the sake of their families in and around the house? Should the primary domestic worker of the home get a salary from the state for his or her constant devotion and commitment, or should their work just be seen as a "labour of love" (Pettman 14), as Pettman names it? Seeing as though the domestic worker would likely make more money that the partner who works out of the house, how would the dynamics of the home and martial relations change if a price was set on the work the domestic partner does? Do you think the domestic partner would consider the ramifications of implementing a domestic salary worthwhile and beneficial, if it may very well cause the foundation of his or her marriage to crumble?