Care, including caring for children, the elderly and people with illnesses or disabilities, as well as performing everyday household duties, is key to social well-being. It's the "invisible engine" that supports the functioning of our economies, businesses and societies.
Without people who invest time, effort and resources into these important daily tasks, households, businesses and entire economies would come to a halt. However, most of this work is unfairly done by women and girls, especially from poor and marginalized groups. Despite the fact that this is important work, it often remains unpaid, undervalued and unrecognized, supporting gender and economic inequalities.
This work is often seen as "non-work", and the costs for it are considered expenses, not investments. Our unequal economic system values the wealth of a narrow circle of privileged, mostly men, more than the billions of hours that women and girls put in for free every day.
Governments should prioritize care, ensure fair taxation, and invest in public services and infrastructure to reduce the burden on women and expand their opportunities for work outside the home, leaving behind the "double shift".
Music: Jeremy Blake - Never Play