Household Division of Labor: Making the invisible work fair, if not equal
Feb 15, 2024
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In this podcast, they discuss the invisible labor in households and the inequities in the division of visible work. Guest Eve Rodsky offers solutions to rebalance workloads and save marriages. They also explore strategies for improving the division of household labor and the need to make invisible work visible. The hosts share anecdotes about interruptions, responsibilities, and dealing with groceries. They discuss the benefits of Hello Fresh and the sponsorship by Framebridge. Lastly, they talk about how making a list of household chores can help appreciate partners and understand responsibilities.
Invisible work in households involves not just the visible tasks, but also the behind-the-scenes responsibilities such as appointment coordination and planning.
The gendered division of invisible work is a widespread issue in heterosexual couples, with women often bearing the majority of the burden.
Effective communication, challenging biases, and implementing organizational principles can help establish a fairer distribution of household tasks and alleviate overwhelm and boredom.
Deep dives
The Importance of Recognizing and Sharing the Invisible Work in Household Duties
In this podcast episode, the speaker discusses the concept of invisible work in household duties. They explain that doctor's appointments, for example, are not just about taking the child to the doctor, but also involve remembering the appointments, making the necessary calls, and coordinating with the school. The episode highlights the unequal distribution of invisible work, particularly among heterosexual couples, where women often bear the majority of the burden. The speaker emphasizes the negative impact this imbalance can have on relationships and offers solutions for creating a fairer division of labor in the home.
Treating Homes as Organizations to Improve the Allocation of Household Work
The podcast guest, Eve Rodske, discusses her book 'Fair Play' and shares insights on addressing the gendered division of labor within households. She suggests treating homes more like businesses and implementing systems, organization, and open communication to improve the allocation of household work. The episode highlights the importance of recognizing the value of women's time and the systemic expectations that contribute to gender inequality in domestic responsibilities. Implementing organizational principles can help establish fairness and accountability in the distribution of household tasks.
Overcoming Communication Challenges in Redistributing Household Responsibilities
The episode explores the challenge of communication when discussing the division of household responsibilities. Many couples struggle to effectively communicate and properly distribute tasks. The speaker shares examples of societal and personal barriers that prevent effective communication, such as assumptions based on income, flexibility, multitasking skills, and gender roles. They emphasize the importance of viewing communication as an ongoing practice rather than a one-time conversation. By understanding and challenging internal biases and developing an organizational mindset, couples can work towards a more equitable distribution of household tasks.
The Power of Creating Systems to Address Invisible Work
The podcast episode highlights the significance of developing systems to address invisible work in the household. The guest shares her experience of creating a system focusing on conception, planning, and execution to divide up tasks and responsibilities. By systematizing unpaid labor, individuals can regain agency over their time and establish accountability and trust within the household. The episode emphasizes that implementing systems based on organizational principles can help individuals become more efficient and alleviate feelings of overwhelm and boredom in managing household duties.
Overcoming Barriers and Transforming Relationships through Fair Play
The podcast episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of overcoming barriers and transforming relationships through fair play. The guest encourages individuals to conduct an internal audit of their current situation and assess their ability to consistently be interested in their own lives. By recognizing the value of their time and challenging societal expectations, individuals can approach communication, boundaries, and systems with a mindset that promotes fairness and equality. The episode highlights the potential for improving relationships and overall well-being by engaging in fair play and actively redistributing household responsibilities.
Invisible labor. It’s the work — in our households especially — that has to happen but that no one sees. It’s making the doctor’s appointment, ensuring the Valentine’s cards are purchased, remembering the milk. When we think about equity in household labor, we often find that there are already inequities in the visible work, and they can become insurmountable when the invisible work is added in.
