Undercovered: Years of Extra Labor That Nobody’s Counting

Undercovered is our daily feature bringing attention to women’s issues worldwide, which we feel deserve a larger audience.

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According to a report entitled Not Ready, Still Waiting, presented by the charity ActionAid before the United Nations general assembly on Thursday, a woman on average will work four years more than a man. Though it takes the form of work that is scarcely counted and unpaid, such as raising families and caring for community members.

Amelia Hill writes in The Guardian:

Highlighting the global burden of unpaid care work on women, the report finds that a woman living in the UK can expect to do two and a half years more labour than her male peers over her working life.

The report warns that the burden of unpaid care work limits women’s opportunities to pursue income-generating options, to have their voices heard in decision-making and political activities, and for rest and leisure.

To redress the balance, ActionAid is calling for governments – especially in developing countries where women are more likely to be affected – to deliver quality public care services, pass equal pay and family-friendly workplace legislation and agree minimum living wages, among other solutions.

You can read the complete report here.

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[image: Glass and Nature, via shutterstock.com]

Undercovered is a daily feature from Mediaite, bringing attention to stories about women’s issues that warrant more attention. Go through the Undercovered archives here. If you have an idea or a tip, please email us at Undercovered@mediaite.com

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