Final answer:
Arlie Hochschild's research highlighted the concept of the 'second shift,' where working women are also expected to fulfill traditional domestic responsibilities. This societal expectation reflects the challenges women face balancing careers with home duties, often without adequate support from spouses or societal structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon described by sociologist Arlie Hochschild is known as the second shift. This concept refers to the additional work that women who pursue careers outside the home take on when they return to their domestic responsibilities. In the early 1980s, many women in the United States faced the challenging reality of managing both a career and traditional homemaking duties, often without equitable support from their husbands. While participating in the workforce provided a degree of economic and personal empowerment, it also brought added stress due to the double burden of workplace and domestic roles.
Key criticisms of the era focused on the notion of the 'superwoman' who balanced career and family, highlighting the sacrifices and inequalities involved in this dual role. Women's contributions to the economy and their push for equal rights at work were undeniably impactful and highlighted the growing trend of female employment outside of the homemaking sphere. However, this shift also reflected the stern reality of gender dynamics and the social and economic need for dual-income households.