Women Do More Unpaid Work

Women still largely undertake unpaid work, including specialized care for children, the elderly, and healthcare. Some work is entirely unpaid, such as domestic tasks like preparing food, washing clothes, and cleaning the house.

Data from Mencare shows women work an average of three times more than men in such unpaid work. This calculation is based on daily working hours and varies across regions. South Asia shows the largest disparity, with women spending up to 6.5 times more time on unpaid work than men.

Besides South Asia, significant disparities also exist in the Middle East and North Africa. These three regions are geographically proximate. According to Mencare's analysis, women undertaking the most unpaid work come from low-income countries.

Globally, the situation has improved with increased male contribution to childcare, particularly in high-income regions. A 40-year trend (across 20 countries) shows an increase of up to 6 hours per week in men's contribution to domestic work and childcare. This trend needs to be amplified and serve as an example for regions with high work-time disparities to achieve equality.