Women's work is never done...

As mentioned briefly in the previous blog, there is an unequal distribution of caring labor between genders. I would like to elaborate upon this and explain just what we mean when we make this statement.

Quite often the burden of care falls to women. Often, they must cope with an elderly parent who is dying while at the same time caring for young children. Add to the mix that many women are working full or part time and they are bound to experience incredible amounts of stress. Finally, in our mobile day and age, most families are spread out across the contintient and cannot provide assistance to care for the person who is dying

Women are far more likely than men to assume the role of unpaid caregiver in families and communities. As changes in the healthcare system have shifted the responsibility for care onto communities and families, it is unpaid caregivers - particularly women - who are providing care. In their role as unpaid caregivers, women are far more likely than men to take on intense activities of caregiving, such as providing assistance with personal care, cleaning, meals and such.

Women's health and well-being has been found to be negatively affected as a result of providing unpaid care. Furthermore, the economic security of women who are attempting to balance paid and unpaid work is threatened. "Caregiving work is made invisible both by the nature of the activities, which are usually performed inside the home, as well as by the fact that it is considered a "labour of love" or "women's work," which is both devalued and unpaid."

There is an absence of appropriate policy both at the provincial/territorial and national levels to alleviate the unnecessary financial, health, and social support challenges that are faced by unpaid caregivers.