Balancing Women’s Invisible Load

If I’ve been out of pocket lately, it’s because I’ve been navigating the unexpected illnesses of two family members—a stark reminder of the immense personal toll caretaking takes on working women as we strive to balance career, leadership, and family.

Beyond physical tasks, women usually shoulder the invisible "mental gymnastics" of the household: the endless planning, communicating, and managing schedules.

Too often, the profound work of raising a family is minimized as a secondary pursuit rather than recognized for the demanding, essential role it truly is. Yet, because we care deeply about building a better future, we still step up to volunteer for unpaid community and leadership positions.

The data validates this weight:

• The Caregiving Gap: Pew Research Center data consistently shows that women shoulder the vast majority of domestic labor and caregiving across all age groups.
• The Mental Toll: Studies on cognitive household labor confirm that the constant pressure of anticipating needs is a primary driver of female burnout.

Naming this invisible labor is the first step toward creating a community of genuine support.

I have deeply missed connecting with my beloved fellow members, and I look forward to reconnecting with NFBPWC to rejoin our shared fight for women’s equity.

Direct links and sources:

• Pew Research Center: How Do U.S. Men and Women Spend Their Time?
• Pew Research Center: Women More Than Men Adjust Their Careers for Family Life.
• Psychology Today: Mental Load: The Invisible Weight of Parenthood.
• University of Bath: Successful career women still shoulder the majority of the 'mental load' at home.
• PubMed Central: Cognitive household labor: gender disparities and consequences for maternal mental health and wellbeing.

MEGAN SHELLMAN-RICKARD
Immediate Past President
2024-2026
immpastpresident@nfbpwc.org