Stereotypes are hard to get rid of
In the health and social services system, a great majority of jobs are held by women. This is the outcome of a historically gendered division of labour that confined women to traditional roles, and particularly the role of looking after other people. Care is something that women are expected to provide
This is one of the main reasons why the “caring” professions are professionally and financially undervalued – thanks to the myth of a woman’s calling, and the dedication and self-sacrifice women are socially expected to embody. Women are constantly asked to do more, without being granted the pay and recognition that should ensue.
The highly gendered nature of “care” work, and the non-recognition of the qualifications associated with it, are well documented. But women are nonetheless still expected to have these qualifications, and this creates a significant increase in their experienced workload.
Two full-time work (over)loads
What is expected of women at work is also expected of them at home. Although housework is now more likely to be shared within couples, women sacrifice a greater proportion of their personal time, often taking time off to care for people close to them, for instance.
In other words, the mental work overload that is found in women’s professional lives is also present in their personal lives. And that’s without taking into consideration the conflict between expectations related to job and family – a conflict that creates a constant feeling of guilt, fuelled by the gendered socialization making it more difficult for women to set limits or say no. This dynamic is sometimes exacerbated by undue pressure from managers.
Nothing surprising, then, about the fact that women employed in health and social services lose 44% more work days than men, and that they are more likely to work part time than men – which has an impact on their income when they retire. They are also less likely than men to accept promotions or change the direction of their career.
Becoming aware: a key step
While workload in the health and social services system is an issue for everyone, understanding its full complexity requires us to think specifically about the role of women, both within the system and in society as a whole.
The fight for an equitable distribution of workload, and a fair recognition of “care” work, is a fundamental feminist issue and a complex problem deeply rooted in other social problems that have a greater impact on women than on men.
Becoming aware of this specific aspect of work overload is a crucial moment. It is the first step in an individual and collective mobilization that is essential to ensure that “care” work is acknowledged and valued for what it is: a complex activity that society cannot do without.
Imposed by a historically gendered segregation of roles that makes it seem as if it were part of the natural order of things, this is one of the most subtle forms of work overload. Which certainly doesn’t mean that it’s not harmful. Don’t hesitate to bring it up with those around you or your local union team.