Brazilian women bear hidden financial burden of child care

A study by Think Olga and Think Eva titled “Elas Pagam a Conta – Mulheres, dinheiro e a conta que não fecha” found that Brazilian women shoulder the majority of small but cumulative expenses linked to childcare, such as medicines, school gifts, uniforms and last‑minute purchases. These “invisible” costs are rarely accounted for in household budgets. The report also notes that Brazilian women work an average of 58.1 hours per week, compared with 50.3 hours for men, and that the financial and time pressures lead many to decline promotions, cut work hours or pause their careers.

Separately, a 2023 Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology survey detailed average monthly education expenses for children. Public‑school families face costs ranging from roughly 10,000 to 50,000 yen, while private‑school families often exceed 100,000 yen per month, covering tuition, meals, excursions, PTA fees, extracurricular activities and tutoring. The data highlight the substantial and long‑term financial commitments involved in raising children.