Pip Bennett

You don't need breasts to care.

Heterosexual relationships in Aotearoa are like those elsewhere - once children arrive, women often report surprise and frustration at how they are left holding the dishcloth and the baby. While there has been much work done to understand gender dynamics and the interplay between gender, work and family, we are still far from achieving gender equality. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) reports that, at the current rate, globally gender equality in unpaid care won’t be reached till 2228.

With progress slow and many approaches not producing results, many gender theorists are now in agreement - we need a new tact which focuses on increasing men’s share of care work in the home. Pip's research proposes a new effort to address gender equality, by applying emerging social norms theory with feminist design.

Nine dual working heterosexual couples with young children participated in her research, sharing their beliefs and experiences with the division of childcare and housework. Together, they looked at how gender norms have changed over time, and how these norms could be intentionally changed in the future. A number of potential ways forward have been identified and are currently being worked on. Pip aims to contribute to a better understanding of the role gender norms play in the division of unpaid labour, and how we might intentionally shift these norms towards equality.

Research interests: gender, work/family justice, care, social norms

Supervisors

Dr Kate Prickett, Roy McKenzie Centre for Study of Families and Children

Nan O'Sullivan, School of Design Innovation

Academic Qualifications

Master of Arts in International Relations (Merit)
Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Geography
Bachelor of Science in Development Studies and Linguistics

Academic Awards

2021 Wellington Doctoral Scholarship
2020 PSA Award from the New Horizons for Women Trust: Hine Kahukura