During the Christmas holidays, all attention is on gifts, lavish tables, and family gatherings. But there's a job that accompanies this period and is rarely recognized: unpaid care work, performed in l
rga starts with women.
Organizing the house, preparing meals, caring for the children, caring for the elderly, remembering deadlines and meeting everyone's needs. These are daily tasks that keep families and relationships together, but remain untouched by salaries and contracts.
According to the International Labour Organization, 708 million women worldwide are not participating in the labor market due to unpaid care responsibilities. This reality also affects Italy, where women, on average, dedicate many more hours than men to these activities.
During the Christmas season, this commitment tends to increase. Preparations, family gatherings, and managing meals and parties require time and energy, becoming an additional burden that's often taken for granted.
Talking about it helps remind us that it's not just about "giving a hand," but about recognizing the value of essential work. Without this daily, invisible but continuous contribution, the holidays—and everyday life—probably wouldn't function.
(Unioneonline/Fr. Me.)
