08/16/2026
Powerful work by the incredibly bold and talented Marie Anny Bertsch - putting a picture to something that can be difficult to explain: the mental load.
Gender equality doesn’t just happen in workplaces, boardrooms or politics. It starts at home.
And the data tells us we still have work to do.
🌎 The World Health Organization reports that women perform an estimated 76% of unpaid care activities globally. (World Health Organization)
🌎 UN Women reports that women spend approximately three times as many hours on unpaid care and domestic work as men globally. (UN Women)
Household equality isn’t only about who washes the dishes. It’s also about who notices the dishes need washing.
- Who remembers the appointment?
- Who notices the groceries are running out?
- Who books the dentist?
- Who organizes childcare?
- Who keeps track of school schedules, birthdays and family commitments?
- Who sees what needs to happen next, without being asked?
That invisible planning, remembering and anticipating is part of the mental load.
So how can partners create more equality at home?
👉 Own responsibilities - don’t just “help.” Take responsibility for noticing, planning and completing them.
👉 Divide the thinking, not just the chores. “Tell me what you need me to do” still leaves one person managing the household.
👉 Have regular conversations about workload. Ask whether the division actually feels equitable - not simply whether both people are doing something.
👉 Take entire areas of responsibility. If you own school lunches, appointments or laundry, own the whole process from noticing - planning - doing.
UN Women specifically identifies sharing care work and redistributing unpaid care and domestic responsibilities as important parts of advancing gender equality. (UN Women Knowledge Hub)
Equality in the household doesn’t necessarily mean everything is divided perfectly 50/50 every day.
It means responsibility shouldn’t automatically have a gender.
🎨 Artwork: Marie Anny Bertsch - visit and support the original artist.
