It's International Women's Day. How shall we celebrate?
Let's stop ignoring ALL the unpaid work women do.
📣Just cause it’s unpaid, doesn't make it less valuable.
There's a reason we're exhausted and it's not our fault.
Society expects women to work for free.
Everyday women are doing a million things that keep our lives and society going without pay or public recognition.
And to make things worse, we normalize shaming ourselves for not getting it all done perfectly. 🤢
Do you do any of the following and assume you should be able to do it all?
- Caring for sick loved ones
- Grocery shopping
- Cleaning
- Finding a doctor covered by your insurance
- Fighting with insurance to pay for necessary care
- Providing childcare
- Arranging transportation
- Doing laundry
- Maintaining a home
- Arranging activities and social events
- Caring for the emotional needs of others
- + a million other tasks
When we don't acknowledge and give ourselves kudos for all this labor we will continue to feel exhausted.
AND we are complicit in undervaluing the labor historically and typically done by women (specifically women of color). Yes - the history of racism and sexism continues to impact our daily lives.
This is ALL work. And it is all valuable.
You are not lazy, unproductive, or under achieving if you spend time making sure your family has clean clothes, wiping down the counters, or simply holding your loved ones, helping them feel calm, safe and connected in this ever-changing disconnected world. 💕
What narratives do you believe about all the "extra" responsibilities you hold?
When we change our own POV, then we can change policy and culture.