There’s an old saying: A man may work from dusk to dawn, but a woman’s work is never done. A cursory Internet search claims the quote goes back more than 200 years.
Of course, eons ago women were birthing babies at home, rearing children, cooking, cleaning, engaging in other household drudgery, carrying water (figuratively and literally), baling hay, and hauling and hewing timber.
So things have changed for the better, yet many are still overworked. For example, nowadays the majority of wives and mothers work outside the home. But they continue to be primarily responsible for the housework and childcare. Studies show that women are still doing more than 80 percent of domestic chores. Fortunately, labor-saving devices such as dishwashers, washing machines and microwaves have lightened the load.
Still, being a “domestic goddess” may not be what it’s cracked up to be. At one time, women were touting they could have it all with the implication that they could do it all. Superwomen may have it under control, but most are buckling under the pressure. Hence, the term “work-life balance” was spawned. The term essentially means that many women have to walk the tricky line between success in their occupations and success with their families.
There is a recent article by Tina Vasquez, “Why Are Women of Color Excluded from Conversations about Work-Life Balance?” For decades, these problems generally focused on middle-class white women. But Third Wave Feminism in the 1990s embraced diversity, including women of color.
African Americans in particular are unique in American history and many times deserve special attention. For example, prior to the 1960s, domestics who “stayed on the place” – meaning they lived and worked in white homes – agonized over neglecting their children to make a living. They spent far more time on “the place” than at home, and their families suffered as a result.
More educated and skilled black women struggled less with this dilemma, but balancing work and home was still a constant source of worry and guilt. Suffice it to say, work-life balance can mean different things according to a woman’s race, class, disability, etc. Single mothers, of course, are hit doubly hard.
This is one reason the Professional Organization of Women (P.O.W.) is so important for African Americans. A dedicated group of professional women formed P.O.W. 16 years ago to specifically address their needs in order to advance professionally. This year, our theme is “Work-life Balance.” Many issues have thus far emerged: from prejudice, stereotyping to health and just women neglecting themselves.
In sum, black women are realizing they are working far too hard and spreading themselves far too thin. P.O.W. will be addressing work-life balance in various ways at various venues during the year. An honest dialogue is definitely needed on this very important issue.
For more information, contact us at empower@powinc.org or 314-963-5287 www.powinc.org.
Malaika Horne is P.O.W. board chair and director of the UMSL Executive Leadership Consortium.
