Housework traditionally in a post-industrial setting is very often limited to mundane, banal and repetitive activities. The question then becomes how can one as a product designer intervene in the banality of the everyday in a way that would make the experience more meaningful (i.e. valuable, fun, engaging, educational).
Sub Questions
What are the most tedious household “chores” in developing countries? (Fetching water, harvesting crops, etc.)
How many hours a day do women and children spend doing their “chores”?
What is significant for men in these cultures? Women? Children?
What are their priorities for their survival?
What are the physical/health consequences of fulfilling these chores? Health hazards?
Do children spend more time doing their “chores” than studying/playing?
What are the statistics of children working?
What are the statistics of illiteracy in these countries?
What is an average income of a family?
What resources do they have access to? What resources do they not have access to? (i.e. water, wood, etc.)
What is the history of amusements? What is the history of amusement parks?
Are there products already on the market addressing these issues?
Gabriela, this is a very promising research direction, in my opinion! You have identified an area that is likely to be of great importance in the developing world in the near future. In developed countries, the introduction of labor saving devices and products that make housework more efficient led directly to the availability of women as members of the workforce, thereby driving economic progress. In the developing world, women are usually still engaged in very time-consuming, often demeaning labor just to keep the household going. But, as places like China, India, Brazil and other South American countries continue to rise, women in those places will demand relief from lives of drudgery, and increasing wealth will allow them to begin escaping domestic bondage. But, I would argue that the trajectory of these changes will probably not mirror what happened in the US, Europe and other rich countries, because of cultural differences. For example, men in highly patriarchal societies may strongly object to the notion of women working. In those places, men may feel threatened by the introduction of new products that make house work easier, because they see that as the first step towards greater gender equality, which they do not want. Any product ideas that don't take into account these cultural forces will probably fail, but those that demonstrate a very strong awareness of social dynamics in traditional family structures will have an excellent opportunity for success.
ReplyDeleteLet's talk about this tomorrow.
steven