#BreakTheBias: Burden of unpaid work wearing women down, at home and workplaces


Many any women leave the workforce when they have children, some by choice but mostly because of the "double burden" they bear. Photo: 123rf.com

Single mother Fione works three or four jobs, which she juggles between caring for her four-year-old child and seeing to the needs of her two older children, aged 14 and 16. Fione isn't able to hold a full time job because there's no one to help her look after her young child – she can't afford daycare and her mum isn't well enough to help with babysitting.

"Every job I take has to work around my schedule with the kids. I drive the older ones to and from school myself because I can't afford to pay transporter or school bus fees. Sometimes, I get good employers who don't mind me taking a little time off to do my chores," shares Fione, 42, a single mother who lives in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM5/month

Billed as RM5/month for the 1st 6 months then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Family

Ensuring healthy years for children with haemophilia
Age no barrier for these musical seniors and their melody journey
Sounds of change: This show uses orchestral music to teach kids about ecology
Malaysian associate producer shares her thoughts on working for international game developer
A Sabah pet cafe gives children a chance to get up-close with exotic animals
How one doctor devises a plan to manage kids' fear of needles
How parents and caregivers can train boys to embrace healthy masculinity
Can cats and dogs follow a meat-free diet?
Raise boys better: How parents can break gender stereotypes for a better future
Dear Thelma: I'm so worried as my son's job and marriage are going south

Others Also Read