Gender Roles and Caregiving: Invisible Labor and Health Risks

Abstract More and more people particularly women provide informal care for aging family members. This unpaid work remains unaccounted for in national statistics yet is vital to society. Gender norms and the division of labor shape the caregiving responsibilities. For instance, women mostly bear the non-financial costs of care. The feelings of being left out, revoked, and lack of integration can be a threat to mental and physical health. Women caregivers provide care of high quality, but their health declines more than men’s. Caregiving is still culturally coded as feminine and low status. Everyday routines contain invisible caregiving labor that is often seen as natural rather than meaningful work. The impact, which largely helps older, disabled and younger adults, is hardly compensated nor made visible. Caregivers often do not have access to important resources including health insurance which increases their vulnerability. People still take on caregiving roles, despite the risks involved, out of duty, custom or affection. “The division of labor and our understanding of responsibility is very gendered in care.” Men and women may define caregiving differently but the burden does not fit the bill. This shows the need for better recognition, policy response and support mechanisms to lessen caregiver strain and promote equity.