'Worry work': The mental load is weighing on mothers in the pandemic era
CTV
Women typically perform more cognitive and emotional labour than men when it comes to managing household responsibilities, but experts say this so-called 'worry work' has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and may have a lasting impact on gender equality if greater supports aren't made available to mothers.
Booking children's appointments, organizing playdates, creating the grocery shopping list for the week, worrying about your kids' grades and whether they have a clean face mask for school are all considered "worry work," according to Andrea O'Reilly, a women's studies professor at York University in Toronto.
O'Reilly told CTVNews.ca that "worry work," also known as "maternal thinking" or the "mother load," may seem minor, but these tasks can pile up to a point where they become overwhelming and impact a woman's mental health.
O'Reilly explained in a telephone interview that women have handled an "overwhelming majority" of the household responsibilities during the pandemic.
So why not just ask fathers to do more around the house?
