SHARE HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND CHILDCARE EQUALLY
Household chores and children’s care are every adult’s responsibility. Ask yourself if there is an equal division of labor in your home. The work of caring for children is still done mainly by women in much of the world. A report released by the UN in 2015 points out that women from developing countries do over three hours more of daily unpaid work (household chores and childcare) than men, while in developed countries, they do, on average, two hours more.
According to studies, the overload of household chores can increase women’s chances of mental illnesses, besides depressing their productivity at work, consequently affecting their salaries.
WATCH FOR SIGNS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Get some help and support if you know a friend or acquaintance is suffering from domestic violence or other abuse. This type of violence is not restricted to physical aggression. Verbal attacks (curses and threats) and psychological abuse (controlling, manipulative and intimidating behavior) also affect women. Often, all these things occur together. If you experience domestic violence, be aware that you are not alone. Report it!
The same UN report quoted above points out that in most countries with data available, less than 40 percent of women who experience violence seek help of any kind. Among those who do, most seek out family and friends, and few use formal institutions and mechanisms, such as police and health services. Less than 10 percent of women went to the police after suffering violence.
SUPPORT MOTHERS AND PARENTS
Those responsible for children and teens need support in every society. Offering the bus seat to a pregnant woman, advocating the installation of children’s changing rooms in all bathrooms in shopping centers (not only in the women’s facilities) and asking that companies guarantee maternity and paternity leave are all necessary actions. The latest UN data, released in 2015, shows that only 53 percent of countries offer at least 14 weeks of maternity leave. Even worse, only 48 percent of countries offer any paternity leave.