The Mental Load: How Women Carry The Weight Of The World

It’s often said that women carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. A recent study has shown that this is actually true — at least when it comes to parenting. The mental load refers to the unending list of tasks that need to be done in order for a household to run smoothly. The anticipation of needs, the strategy to meet those needs, and the follow-through of those plans are a large weight to carry for any family. This burden falls disproportionately on women who are responsible for full-time jobs as well as this invisible load.

Business Wire referenced a statistic that stated that 86% of working moms say they handle all family and household responsibilities and 72% feel it’s their job to stay on top of kids’ schedules. Despite a large percentage of women now also working outside the home full time, the mental load still remains largely unmoved.

Women in this situation may feel like they’re always responsible for everything. They may find themselves constantly juggling tasks and feeling overwhelmed.

Here are 5 ways to know if you carry the mental load:

1. You’re always the one who is replenishing supplies and food in the home. You feel solely responsible to ensure that everything is available in the home and you make that happen regularly
2. You are in a constant state of remembering. Family members will often ask you if the home has something in stock or where it is located. You are expected to know what is available at any given moment.
3. You are the one to anticipate and coordinate doctor appointments, camps, school holiday schedules, etc. and ensure everything is done on time. This can even include coordinating plans with your partner’s family.
4. Your partner is unable to anticipate or meet the needs of the children without direction.
5. You have to explicitly ask for “help” from your partner. Typically you will need to be very specific in your requests and little is contributed outside the exact delegated task.

When discussing mental load, women will often reference the fact that their husband is the breadwinner and works a full-time job as the reason why he carries so little. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that in 2019, 57.4% of women participated in the workforce and 69.2% of men did. That number is close enough that the mental load should be spread more evenly across households.

There are tons of amazing articles online that can help you recognize and address mental load. Oftentimes, a role reversal helps partners see the invisible load, but it still may be difficult for them to identify with the pressures women carry daily. Talk openly with your partner about how you’re feeling and share responsibilities equally. If one partner is doing more than their fair share, it will only lead to resentment down the road.