Which of the following best defines domestic labour?

• A. Paid employment outside the home.
• B. Unpaid housework, including cooking, cleaning, childcare and looking after the sick and elderly.
• C. Financial management and decision-making.
• D. Volunteering in the community.

Answer: (B)

Domestic labour refers to the unpaid work done inside the home to keep the household running and to care for family members. This includes tasks like cooking, cleaning, laundry, childcare, and looking after someone who is sick or elderly. It’s unpaid and takes place within the home, which is what distinguishes it from paid work or other out-of-home activities. The other options describe activities outside the home or paid/community roles, which aren’t the same as domestic labour. In sociology, this concept is central to discussions about how family life is organized and how unpaid labour is valued and distributed.