Título en español.

Abstract

Home, the domestic environment, represents a map of family relationships and society. In Puerto Rico, home environment is understudied and the research study presented in this article represents an exploration around issues of the social construction of the domestic environment, the use of the home-space, the distribution of home responsibilities and the family dynamics within the home environment. The research was conducted with the cooperation of 44 families, living in urban residences in metropolitan Puerto Rico. In-depth interviews were conducted to gather the information. The research findings show that the home is a place to inhabit and to share with the family and where the domestic responsibilities fundamentally are taken care by women, although in certain homes men share some of them. The most used space at home is the bedroom, where the TV and the bed are the most important elements. Also, it was found that both parents share the responsibility over their children, establishing diverse strategies for their supervision and care. Findings suggest the importance of social-psychological factors in the analysis of daily life at home.