Brazilian women confront rising maternal burden and late‑parenthood

In Brazil, mothers continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of child‑rearing responsibilities. Data from the IBGE’s continuous household survey show women spend on average 21.3 hours per week on domestic work and caring for people, almost double the 10.9 hours reported by men. The article notes that societal expectations still hold mothers fully accountable for children’s behavior while fathers are judged only for occasional involvement, a dynamic that contributes to mental‑health strain for women. Expert Núria Santos is quoted saying, “We have structured society to demand impossible perfection from mothers and treat fathers as optional.”

A separate report highlights the rise of late motherhood among Brazilian women, driven by career, financial stability and personal choice. Gynecologist Carolina Fedrizzi explains that fertility declines sharply after age 35, reducing both the quantity and quality of eggs, and increasing genetic‑risk pregnancies. She recommends early reproductive planning, including egg freezing before 35, and notes that assisted‑reproductive technologies such as IVF can help but do not guarantee success. The piece stresses that each case requires individualized medical assessment.