Why? Because her labor is unpaid

At 5:30 AM, Meena starts her day. She cooks breakfast, packs tiffins, cleans the house, washes clothes, helps her children with school prep, and looks after her ageing in-laws. By 9:00 AM, she’s done more work than most office-goers do before lunch — but she hasn’t earned a rupee.

Yet, Meena doesn’t consider herself a “working woman.”

Why? Because her labor is unpaid — and invisible.

What is Invisible Labor?

Invisible labor refers to the unpaid, often unrecognized work done mostly by women — inside homes and within families. It includes:

• Cooking and cleaning
  
• Caring for children, elders, and sick family members
  
• Emotional labor — remembering birthdays, planning meals, managing household tensions
  

This work forms the backbone of families and societies, yet it’s rarely acknowledged as “real” work.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

According to a 2019 report by the International Labour Organization:

• Indian women perform 312 minutes of unpaid work per day, while men perform only 29 minutes.
  
• The value of unpaid domestic work done by Indian women is equivalent to 20% of India’s GDP — yet it goes unrecorded in official data.
  

This means that millions of women like Meena are powering our economy without being seen.

Why Is It a Gender Equality Issue?

Because this kind of labor:

• Limits women’s time and energy to pursue paid jobs, education, or entrepreneurship.
  
• Reinforces outdated gender roles — where caregiving is a woman’s “natural duty.”
  
• Devalues women’s contribution to families and the economy.
  

And when women try to balance both — a job outside and responsibilities at home — they face burnout, guilt, and zero support systems.

Changing the Narrative

To build a more equal society, we need to:

Encourage men and boys to become equal partners, not passive observers.

Acknowledge unpaid work as real, valuable labor.

Redistribute responsibilities at home — chores aren’t gendered.

Advocate for state support like paid caregiving leaves, community childcare centers, and women’s self-help support systems.

From Meena to Millions: A Wake-Up Call

When Meena joined a local self-help group, she realized she wasn’t alone. Together, the women began tracking their daily unpaid hours. Today, they are advocating for local policies that support caregiver compensation and demanding community creches. Their invisible labor is finally becoming visible — and powerful.