Mark recently shared a LinkedIn post addressing the ongoing imbalance in unpaid domestic labour, which continues to fall disproportionately on women. His commentary responded to a post by Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, who highlighted that despite societal progress, women still undertake the majority of unpaid work—a disparity exacerbated by the shift to remote working.

The Core Message: Unpaid Work Is Still Work

Brearley emphasised that tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and caring are fundamental to the economy yet remain unrecognised and undervalued. She referenced the 1970s Wages for Housework campaign, which asserted that domestic labour—often dismissed as acts of love—is, in fact, unwaged work. Brearley cited data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics indicating that women perform nearly an hour more unpaid labour daily compared to men.

Freed supported Brearley’s perspective, noting that while women have made significant strides in breaking free from outdated stereotypes, men have not made similar progress in shedding rigid gender roles. He suggested reframing domestic responsibilities from burdensome chores to meaningful and fulfilling choices, advocating for a shared journey towards equity and freedom for all.

Community Reactions: A Spectrum of Responses

The post sparked a broad range of reactions. Some men responded defensively, listing their household contributions or dismissing the discussion as “sexist claptrap.” In contrast, many women expressed frustration at having to continue reiterating these issues, highlighting the emotional and mental toll of unpaid labour. Others stressed the importance of recognising and valuing domestic work, advocating for a cultural shift in how society perceives and shares these responsibilities.

Moving Forward: Embracing Shared Responsibility

The dialogue underscores the need for both men and women to engage in conversations around domestic labour and gender roles. By acknowledging the value of unpaid work and promoting shared responsibility, society can move towards greater equity and mutual respect. As Freed aptly stated, liberation from stereotypes requires collective effort and a recognition that unpaid labour is indeed labour—worthy of acknowledgement and appreciation.

This ongoing conversation serves as a reminder that achieving genuine gender equity involves not only policy change, but also cultural transformation in how we value and distribute all forms of labour.