Women spend twice as much time on family care

If the average time spent by a man caring for family members is 26 minutes a day, that of a woman is 52 minutes. Almost twice as long. In one year, the difference is 153 more hours of female work. If these dedicated hours were remunerated with the average amount paid to a day care center, women would receive about US$ 4,600 per year and men more than US$ 2,300.

This is what an analysis by the American NGO National Partnership for Women & Families in relation to the survey “2022 American Time Use Survey”, which dealt with how Americans use their time.

If 22% of women dedicate themselves to the care of family members, about 14% of men assume this responsibility. Regarding the care specifically for the children who live with them, they spend 31 minutes more than them. Only in relation to caring for adults not belonging to the family, men are more busy than women. But the difference is not big, they dedicate less than 2 minutes a day more than them.

The survey also indicated that Latino women spend an extra hour when compared to other groups of women (white, black and Asian).

Home office is a way out

The professional life of women is impacted by the time dedicated to the family. The study also pointed out that, after the Covid-19 pandemic, women are more likely to work remotely, which facilitates home care. According to the American NGO, 75% of caregivers who work at home – and save travel time – spend that time with their children.

Among the solutions proposed by National Partnership for Women & Familiesespecially for gender equality, consider the provision of paid leave and public child care.