The heavy pressure of 'invisible labor' makes women feel emptiness to life and is harming mental health

by Jacqueline Day

Along with data that "invisible labor" is widely practiced in the United States, it is reported that certain "invisible labor" has a negative effect on women's emotional and psychological well-being , by academic journal · Sex Roles It was shown in a new study published in.

Invisible Household Labor and Ramifications for Adjustment: Mothers as Captains of Households | SpringerLink
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11199-018-1001-x

Women's invisible labor leaves them feeling empty, study finds
https://mashable.com/article/women-invisible-labor-mental-load-study/

Emotional responsibility of being a mother damaging women's mental health, study finds | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/women-mental-health-motherhood-family-emotional-labour-study-research-a8740501.html

The participation of fathers in domestic affairs and child rearing has increased more than in the past in recent years, but still it was shown by researchers of Arizona State University and Oklahoma State University that homes are being managed by women. This is the same even if women are working, researchers pointed out that "invisible labor" burdened women and made women empty day by day.

In this research questionnaire survey was conducted for 393 married or partner women living in the United States. Many of the subjects are the upper middle class.

90% of the women who were the subject of the survey feel that "I am responsible for the family schedule management by one person", 70% say that I am the "captain" of a ship called a family In addition to answering the routine, we have taken responsibility for assigning tasks in the home. This task includes "insignificant content" such as "finding family socks" "picking up and picking up".

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And researchers found that especially when women answered "they are responsible for child's well-being by themselves", they feel emptiness and that satisfaction with life and partners is lowered .

Two-thirds of the questionnaire respondents believe that they are responsible for taking care of their children's feelings, and 78% of respondents say they know the school's teachers and responsible persons at the child . Suniya S. Luthar, professor of psychology at Arizona State University and coauthor of thesis, is seeking those who share the fears, desires and observations that women have for their children, even though they have partners When I feel that "I am making a decision by myself", I see that things turn into bad people.

In investigating, researchers are asked to adjust for multiple factors that may affect the subject's emotion and mental health, such as "Do you feel that you are loved unconditionally?" "How close do you think it is intimate with your partner?" It is said that it is going. However, even if these adjustments are made, "having one responsible for children's emotional development" has a negative influence on women's well-being and satisfaction with human relationships Was indicated.

However, although it was recognized that there is a relationship between women 's experience and mental suffering, this study does not reveal causal relationships. Also, since most of the subjects were heterosexual couples and few low-income women, researchers are calling attention to generalizing conclusions.

Mr. Luthar talked to partners about invisible labor and said it as a solution to share the burden, but also said that "the existence of other mothers who sympathize and support," "mothers' carers" I also mention the importance. Based on his research results, Mr. Luthar promotes the connection between mothers as solidarity and support among mothers will be able to save "invisible labor".

by Oleg Sergeichik

However, as a result of sharing the way of "good parenting" between mothers, it is impossible for mothers to order "better child care" to themselves. "I do not want you to add items to the long To-do list that I already have, so I want you to give priority to being" taken care of. "As my own eyes Please visualize "gentle hands" before, "said Luthar.