Equal Care Day: Recognizing the Work That Often Goes Unseen
Caring typically falls on women, with impacts on health, income, and rights.
March 1st is Equal Care Day. This international day of action shines a light on unpaid and undervalued care work, work that is often carried out by women.
Care work is the backbone of our families, communities, and health systems, but it is too often invisible and undervalued. Care work includes activities such as child care, supporting loved ones through illness, and providing emotional labour at home and in the workplace. Most women shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid and unseen labour.
This imbalance has profound consequences. Unrecognised care work is a major factor in contributing to high stress levels (leading to negative health consequences) and limiting economic opportunities. When care is invisible, the people providing it are more often than not left unsupported, all whilst systemic inequalities persist.
From Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez, “McKinsey found that a decrease in the time British women spend doing unpaid work from five to three hours [per day] correlated with a 10% increase in their paid labor-force participation.”
Equal Care Day is more than just a reminder—it is also a call to action. This day asks us to acknowledge, value, and redistribute care work fairly. Share your story, support initiatives that make care work visible, and advocate for health equity that includes every gender and identity. It is only together than we can ensure care is valued, shared, and recognised.
Resources
Here at Anodyne Magazine, we acknowledge the vital labour that often is rendered invisible, and we are committed to amplifying the voices and needs of those who sustain care in our communities. You can read about the impact of care work in our magazine, and use the resources below to find support.
Spielwarenmesse: A great resource outlining why we celebrate Equal Care Day
An event in Leipzig, Germany, focused on new perspectives of care work
Know of more resources? Share them in the comments so others can get support.