Woman's Workload
Source: UN Women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/csw61/red...
From cooking and cleaning, to fetching water and firewood or taking care of children and the elderly, women carry out at least two and a half times more unpaid household and care work than men.
As a result, they have less time to engage in paid labor, or work longer hours, combining paid and unpaid labor. Women's unpaid work subsidizes the cost of care that sustains families, supports economies and often fills in for the lack of social services. Yet, it is rarely recognized a "work".
Unpaid care and domestic work is valued to be 10 and 39 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and contribute more to the economy than the manufacturing, commerce or transportation sectors.[1] With the onslaught of climate change, women's unpaid work in farming, gathering water and fuel is growing even more.
Policies that provide services, social protection and basic infrastructure, promote sharing of domestic and care work between men and women, and create more paid jobs in the care economy, are urgently needed to accelerate progress on women's economic empowerment.
[1] Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work, Report of the Secretary-General, E/CN.6/2017/3, December 2016
WOMAN’S WORKLOAD
Women from all cultures around the world experience the challenge of excessive workload.
THE CHALLENGE
Women from all cultures around the world experience the challenge of excessive workload. This stunts their physical, emotional, spiritual, social, relational and economic wellbeing. Issues such as lack of equal opportunity, political and economic transitions, strict social and cultural norms, and the slow process of change make progress difficult.
Work capacity - Although in some places men have begun to take on more household duties, women continue to bear most of the responsibility for family care. This often either limits their access to paid employment or confines them to part-time positions, which are generally not as well paid.(Global Wage Report 2014/2015)
Work equality - Two decades after the world’s largest gathering of women adopted a far-reaching agenda for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, women are only marginally better off with respect to equality at work. Shauna Olney, Chief of the Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch of the ILO [International Labor Organization] states:
“The overriding conclusion 20 years on from Beijing is that despite marginal progress, we have years, even decades to go until women enjoy the same rights and benefits as men at work.”
Discrimination – In a report on gender equality at work, the International Labor Organization said: “Women continue to experience widespread discrimination and inequality in the workplace. In most parts of the world, women are often in undervalued and low-paid jobs; lack access to education, training, recruitment; have limited bargaining and decision-making power; and still shoulder responsibility for most unpaid care work.” (International Labor Organization, Geneva, IOL News, March 2015)
Negative Impact on Health and Family
“If the mother is deprived of the care and comforts she should have, if she is allowed to exhaust her strength through overwork or through anxiety and gloom, her children will be robbed of the vital force and of the mental elasticity and cheerful buoyancy they should inherit” (E. G. White, Ministry of Healing, p. 375).
These challenges diminish the time women spend in enriching their spiritual lives through Bible study, prayer, and devotional time with God.
GOD’S REQUEST
“My brethren and sisters, in your ministry come close to the people. Uplift those who are cast down…. Work in a way that will cause hope to spring up in the place of despair” (E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church. Vol. 7, p. 246).
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).
OUR RESPONSE
Prayer of commitment
Dear God, Thank You for Your love for us. Help us to reflect this love to others as we reach out in practical ways to “bear one another’s burdens” as Galatians 6:2 instructs us. We are grateful for the invitation of Your son Jesus who tells us, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Amen.
HOW TO BEGIN
Prior to commencing any interventions or projects to relieve women’s workloads, ensure you do adequate research, including consulting with women to ascertain their most urgent needs.
- Where appropriate, work with local advocacy groups that may be able to offer additional advice, expertise, and assistance.
- In promoting this form of outreach, alert women in the church and community of the diverse opportunities for service in this ministry.
- Organize a prayer team to pray for this ministry and the activities you will undertake.
- Undertake a survey to review the main needs of women in the church and community, and to engage the help of external agencies that specialize in this area of work.
- Share this information with your local church board and membership to gain their support and assistance.
- Prioritize your plans and programs according to the most urgent needs identified in the survey.
- Form a project team, elect a coordinator, and delegate duties for each individual.
- Work with your church pastor and other church departments, such as community services, deacons and deaconesses, and Children, Family, Health, and Women’s Ministries.
MINISTRY RESOURCES
Organize and offer support-related events, programs, educational seminars and resources such as:
- Bible Study for Busy Women (GC Women’s Ministries resource to download)
- Child care facilities for mothers to enable them to attend seminars
- “Day of Rest” – a special meeting for mothers while a team takes care of their children
- Emotional resilience workshops
- Health seminars on coping with fatigue, looking after yourself, and wellness tips
- Life-balance seminars
- Seminars for working mothers
- Seminars on how to meet your own needs
- Seminars on how to simplify and organize household tasks
- Seminars on self-esteem, building confidence, and overcoming feelings of guilt
- Stress management and relaxation classes
THE BENEFITS
A good work-life balance enhances the wholistic well being of women and enables them to be more productive in every aspect of their lives.
Download Woman's Workload brochure, one of Women's Ministries Six Challenge Issues.
Photo credits: Unsplash.com
(top to bottom:) Gyan Shahane, Nandhu Kumar, Clay Banks, Annie Spratt, Paolo Nicolello, Tbelabusridze, Gyan Shahane
Published in Mosaic newsletter, 2022 Q1, winter issue