For all latest news, follow the Daily Sun's Google News channel.
It is a common thing for millions of Bangladeshi women to wake up before dawn every day and continue working till late at night. They cook, clean, take care of children and elderly family members, collect water, and manage households, often without expecting any recognition or appreciation. Their efforts sustain families, communities and the economy. Yet, it remains largely overlooked. Women carry a disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic and care work, leading to what experts call “time poverty". Time poverty occurs when individuals lack sufficient time for rest, education, employment, or participation in social and civic life. An MJF seminar recently called for a generational shift. Unpaid care work is not merely a household issue; it is a major economic force.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UN Women’s Unpaid Household Production Satellite Account (2023), the monetary value of unpaid household production in Bangladesh accounts for approximately 21-30 per cent of the country’s GDP.
The BBS Time Use Survey 2022 reveals that women spend five to seven times more hours than men on unpaid domestic and care work. Rural women often face even heavier burdens due to limited infrastructure such as water access and fuel collection. These responsibilities significantly limit women’s opportunities to pursue education, employment, skills development, and civic engagement. As a result, women’s participation in the labour force remains low, around 36 per cent, compared to over 80 per cent for men.
Globally, the picture is somewhat similar. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), women perform 76.2 per cent of total unpaid care work hours worldwide. The UNDP Human Development Report further highlights that time poverty directly restricts women’s economic empowerment and participation in decision-making. To put it in simple terms, when women carry the majority of unpaid work, society loses talent, productivity, and innovation.
A central focus of the seminar was engaging young people, particularly young men, to rethink traditional gender roles. Cooking, cleaning, caregiving, and managing household responsibilities are essential skills that every individual should learn. Beyond policy discussions, the event also used art and performance to challenge social norms. Addressing unpaid care work is not only about fairness within families; it is about building a more inclusive and productive society. When women have equal opportunities to pursue education, employment, leadership, and personal development, communities thrive. But achieving this requires more than policy changes. It requires transforming the social norms that shape everyday behaviour.
Families must encourage boys and young men to participate in household responsibilities from an early age. Schools and universities should create spaces for conversations about gender equality and care work. Policymakers must recognise unpaid care work in economic planning and social protection frameworks. Most importantly, society must acknowledge that care work is real work.
We often make commitments to promote equal sharing of responsibilities within families and communities. But real change begins at home. It begins when a brother shares household chores with his sister.
When family members recognise that caregiving is not a burden, it is a responsibility. The next generation has the power to redefine what equality looks like. If Bangladesh truly wants a society where everyone can pursue his or her ambitions equally, the transformation must start where life begins: within our homes. So, unpaid care work needs to be recognised. And women should be given the time they deserve to live, lead, and thrive.
________________________________________
The writer is Project Officer, Campaign & Communication, Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF). He can be reached at [email protected]