Blanca Fernández advocates for recognition of domestic work

During an institutional event in Argamasilla de Calatrava to mark Housewife Day, Blanca Fernández, the delegate for the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha in Ciudad Real, advocated for the social and economic recognition of domestic work.

Fernández emphasized that “unpaid work does not mean it is not work,” noting that the average workday for a housewife currently reaches ten hours. She highlighted a significant shift in domestic roles over the last two decades, noting that the percentage of women dedicated exclusively to housework has dropped from 40% to 18% as female labor market participation has risen.

Despite a 53% increase in female employment in the province over the last decade, Fernández warned of a “double backpack” for working women, as domestic responsibilities remain unequal. She pointed out that only 28% of men share household tasks equally and called for greater co-responsibility to achieve true gender equality.