Women and girls spend a disproportionate amount of time on unpaid care and domestic work compared to their male counterparts.
This imbalance not only reinforces gender inequality but also limits their opportunities for education, economic empowerment, and personal development.
Despite the essential nature of this labor, it remains undervalued and largely unrecognised by society and policymakers.
Unpaid care work includes tasks such as cooking, cleaning, child-rearing, and caring for the elderly, responsibilities that, while fundamental to the well-being of families and communities, are often seen as women’s duties.
According to the 2017/18 Time Use Survey, women in Uganda spend an average of 7 hours per day on unpaid care activities, while men spend about 5 hours.
This disparity begins early, with girls aged 14 to 17 dedicating 1.8 more hours per day to unpaid care work than boys of the same age group.
This expectation is deeply ingrained in many cultures, making it difficult for women to challenge traditional roles or seek paid employment outside the home.
The result is a cycle of economic dependence and reduced social mobility, particularly for girls who are pulled out of school to help with household responsibilities.
Although efforts such as Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) have attempted to close the educational gap, marginalised and highly traditional communities continue to struggle.
Even for girls who attend school, unpaid care work contributes to gaps in academic performance, as they must first complete household duties before studying, unlike their male counterparts.
The economic impact of unpaid labor is staggering. If unpaid care work were assigned a monetary value, it would contribute trillions of dollars to the global economy.
Yet, this labor remains largely invisible in economic indicators such as GDP, leading to an undervaluation of women’s contributions. Without proper recognition and redistribution of unpaid work, gender equality will remain an elusive goal.
Governments and institutions must take proactive steps to address this issue. Policies that promote shared domestic responsibilities, such as paid paternity leave, accessible childcare services, and flexible work arrangements, can help redistribute unpaid work more equitably.
Investing in public infrastructure, such as clean water and energy sources, can reduce the time women spend on household chores, allowing them to participate more actively in economic and social life.
Men also have a critical role to play. Shifting cultural attitudes and encouraging men to take on a fair share of domestic responsibilities can help dismantle the traditional gender divide.
Education and awareness campaigns can challenge long-standing stereotypes and create a more balanced approach to household duties.
Recognising and addressing the burden of unpaid care work is essential for achieving gender equality. When women and girls are freed from the disproportionate responsibility of domestic labor, they gain greater autonomy, economic power, and opportunities to thrive.
A fairer distribution of unpaid work benefits not only women but entire societies, leading to stronger economies, healthier families, and more equitable communities.
You educate a woman, you educate a nation. You empower the same, you empower a nation.