Women’s unpaid work at home

Studies show that even in the more equal societies, like Sweden where I live, women still do the majority of the housework (cooking, cleaning, planning etc).

This is the case even when the woman is earning the same or more than her male partner that she lives with (for heterosexual relationships that is). Of course there are always exceptions.

We can discuss gender roles and different solutions to this, but my main concern is the creative potential in women that gets lost in the busyness and the distraction and sometimes even burn out that comes with this.

I live by myself and I know many women who do, but not everyone wants or can live by themselves. 

So how do we change this and carve out more space in our lives?

Some might say that we can’t as long as there is inequality and as long as many men do not take their part of the responsibility.

But I say that we can make changes, small changes one step at a time, to reclaim that space and peace and creativity for ourselves. 

If we can carve out even 15 minutes a day to meditate or write in our journal or just sit down with something we like to drink and breathe and clear our thoughts in silence, or listen to some calm music or guided meditation, that is a good start. 

Because many distract themselves by scrolling without aim and use that amount of time or more. 

It’s sounds so simple and like it wouldn’t do much difference, but it does make a difference. 

And when that clarity of thought starts coming to us, we can more clearly decide what we are willing to do and not do, and start questioning if the way we are living our lives works, and make more conscious decisions, which can change the dynamic of women doing all of this unpaid work on autopilot, one woman at a time.