IS WORRY WORK harming your HEALTH?
Does remembering birthday cards and arranging kids’ play dates always fall to you? It’s time to stop ‘emotional labour’ taking a toll on your wellbeing
WORDS ROSALIND RYAN
Is your To Do list constantly filled with things like ‘Pick up birthday cake’ or ‘Call Mum to sort out holiday’? These little jobs may feel like a natural part of being a busy, working woman, but doing more than your fair share of them is actually emotional labour – and there’s nothing little about them.
What is emotional labour?
You may already have heard the term; the issue is gaining awareness as more women realise it’s unfair they’re left to do most of the caring, supportive tasks in their family or relationships – also known as worry work or kin keeping – because it’s part of our innate ‘femaleness’. ‘It’s a myth women are naturally better at remembering anniversaries or arranging doctors’ appointments,’ says Cary Cooper, professor of psychology and health at Manchester University. ‘It’s not part of their DNA! Women are only better because they’ve had more practice at it.’