Unpaid Labor And Gendered Work
Reminder to my fellow moms: You don’t have to do it all.
Studies have shown for decades that women in heterosexual partnerships are responsible for the “invisible labor” at home. Not surprisingly, carrying the lion’s share of the burden has oversized impacts on women’s mental health.
The solution sounds simple: Divvying up domestic responsibilities decreases resentment and increases family cohesion. But how do we best encourage our partners and children to participate in the work of the home for the long haul?
It’s not gendered work; it’s the work of the family and all should contribute. On today’s show Lori Sugarman-Li encourages us to release the need to do everything; she also calls on our partners and children to step up and participate in the essential – but unpaid! – work of the home.
Here’s a preview:
[6:30] Semi-disturbing stats re: impacts of inequitable unpaid labor on women’s wellness
[9:00] Defining family flow: How can we best change a family’s flow if the flow isn’t working for everyone?
[17:00] They aren’t chores! Here’s why we must change both the language and the energy around “chores”
[19:00] Full task ownership versus division of labor: Which provides long-term balance?
[30:00] Words of encouragement for the default (ahem … ‘she-fault’) parents, plus: cycle breaking is in our hands
Resources mentioned:
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