Study sparks call for shared domestic duties to combat gender imbalances and reduce domestic violence
The three-year study found that Ugandan women dedicate 4–6 hours daily to unpaid domestic tasks compared to men’s 1–2 hours, a gap that limits women’s opportunities in education, employment, and self-development, perpetuating poverty at the household level.
A groundbreaking study by Uganda’s Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), in collaboration with Makerere University and CARE International, has shed light on the toll that unpaid care work takes on Ugandan women, prompting calls for more balanced household responsibilities to ease economic and social strains.
The three-year study found that Ugandan women dedicate 4–6 hours daily to unpaid domestic tasks compared to men’s 1–2 hours, a gap that limits women’s opportunities in education, employment, and self-development, perpetuating poverty at the household level.
EPRC’s Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Madina Guloba, highlighted the study’s focus on shifting rigid gender norms that confine women to unpaid domestic work, calling for shared roles within families.
“Our goal was to challenge ingrained gender roles and promote household and community dynamics that respect equitable caregiving roles,” she said.
Through initiatives involving community leaders, male role models, and women’s groups, the study found that incorporating both community and household-level engagements was vital for sustained impact. As a result, women’s unpaid care time dropped by over an hour daily, freeing them for self-care and income-generating activities, which bolstered their financial independence and overall well-being.
“Households where men contribute to domestic duties experience improved family relationships and a notable drop in domestic conflicts,” explained Mbarara MP Margret Ayebare, linking women’s unpaid workload to domestic strife, particularly when women express exhaustion.
Dr. Peace Musiimenta, a senior lecturer at Makerere University, pointed out the need for early interventions in socialization, noting that teachers’ training must emphasize gender equality to dismantle harmful stereotypes that reinforce traditional gender roles from an early age.
“Socialization from childhood teaches, ‘Mummy cooks, Daddy works,’ reinforcing biases that lead to gender-based violence later,” Dr. Musiimenta noted. “Training teachers on gender sensitivity can break this cycle, promoting partnership within homes.”
Ms. Juliet Were, Chairperson of Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), called for the findings to influence policy on Uganda’s care economy, saying, “Insights from this study are crucial for planning and policy decisions, especially in addressing unpaid care work’s value to our economy, estimated at 20–30% of Uganda’s GDP.”
With compelling findings from the study, Uganda’s policymakers and community leaders are urged to consider the social and economic benefits of balanced caregiving roles as a step towards a more equitable and harmonious society.
