The division of labour has been present in human society since the very beginning (Mies 49). The need for the group to accomplish different tasks in order to live was best accomplished through the division of labour. By increasing the value of each person by having them work in different areas enables the large scale progress of the entire society. The early forms of division of labour were largely based around the gender roles, with the male most often being the hunter while the female prepared the food and tended the children (49). This separation was based on the needs of child to be near the mother as well as the physical characteristics of the male.
As civilization continued to evolve, the roles of gender, while continuing to play a pivotal role in the delineation of labour, suffered a reduction in the physical capacity and an increase in the inclusion of the mental capacities. Frobel, Heinrichs and Kreye (2) argue that the world is undergoing a fundamental shift in the division of labour, with the gender roles beginning to not be the basis for separation in the modern era. With technology providing a wide array of tools that enable the physical nature of humanity to become equal, it is the realm of knowledge and application that is serving to illustrate the work force of the next generation.
In the end, the term division of labour no longer means the separation of the sexes for me. This is era now that promotes a consideration of talent and skill set in a clear effort to maximize project potential and make the most of every effort. With every innovation in the international world today, the traditional lines of separation fall aside to be replaced by a model based on a mental ability, with the associated impact of shifting the lines of labour irrevocably.
References
Frobel, F., Heinrichs, J. and Kreye, O. 1998. The New International Division of Labour. Cambridge: Cabridge University Press, pp. 1-300.
Mies, M. 1986. Patriarchy and accumulation on a world scale. London: Zed Books. pp. 1-220.
