Issue 18
Women’s Day
Definitely Painting – María Burgaz
It’s International Women’s Day. How shall we celebrate?
Let’s stop ignoring ALL the unpaid work women do.
📣Just cause it’s unpaid, doesn’t make it less valuable.
There’s a reason we’re exhausted and it’s not our fault.
Society expects women to work for free.
Everyday women are doing a million things that keep our lives and society going without pay or public recognition.
And to make things worse, we normalize shaming ourselves for not getting it all done perfectly. 🤢
Do you do any of the following and assume you should be able to do it all?
- Caring for sick loved ones
- Grocery shopping
- Cleaning
- Finding a doctor covered by your insurance
- Fighting with insurance to pay for necessary care
- Providing childcare
- Arranging transportation
- Doing laundry
- Maintaining a home
- Arranging activities and social events
- Caring for the emotional needs of others
- + a million other tasks
When we don’t acknowledge and give ourselves kudos for all this labor we will continue to feel exhausted.
AND we are complicit in undervaluing the labor historically and typically done by women (specifically women of color). Yes – the history of racism and sexism continues to impact our daily lives.
This is ALL work. And it is all valuable.
You are not lazy, unproductive, or under achieving if you spend time making sure your family has clean clothes, wiping down the counters, or simply holding your loved ones, helping them feel calm, safe and connected in this ever-changing disconnected world. 💕
What narratives do you believe about all the “extra” responsibilities you hold?
When we change our own POV, then we can change policy and culture.
Imagine with me:
A world where the emotional labor of care is equally shared with men.
A world where domestic workers and caregivers are paid equitably.
A world where the economy of connection and care is valued.
If we want to see this in the world, we must first internalize and value this for ourselves and each other. It will take a bit of deprograming and unlearning, but the truth is, this is what the world needs.
If you’re feeling fired up about this issue. Join me in supporting the work of National Domestic Workers Alliance.
Book Recommendation:
We do not live in an isolated moment. We are connected to the generations before and those that come after us.
I am currently reading Break the Cycle – A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma by Dr. Mariel Buque.
It compiles the research and tool kit along with compelling stories about how trauma and resilience is passed down through DNA, our nervous system and how it impacts our experience of the world.
Con Amor, Sonya
P.S. Interested in a leadership coach that isn’t going to tell you to do more and instead help you heal your relationship with expectations, perfectionism, and social norms and in doing so expand your capacity and tap into more joy and ease?
First step: Schedule a free Discovery call. Together we can explore if coaching a good fit.
