We Need to Talk About Invisible Labor

RadioEd

RadioEd is a biweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore new takes on today’s top stories. See below for a transcript of this episode.

I want you to think about who did most of the work in your household growing up. Was it your mom, your grandma? Chances are, it was likely someone who identified as a woman doing the dishes, cooking the food and folding the laundry.

Now, this obviously isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. There are countless family dynamics out there, some of which include men doing a large share of the work that it takes to keep a home and household running smoothly. But historically, and even today, that work is known as women’s work—and it’s often overlooked.

On this episode, we’re talking all about invisible labor, the home and caring work often left to women to coordinate and carry out, with University of Denver economics professor Paula Cole.

Show Notes:

Paula Cole is an economist at the University of Denver where she teaches on gender, care, and inequality. With more than 15 years of experience studying the gendered dimensions of the economy, Cole’s expertise centers on valuing caregiving in the home and the market, the gendered impact of economic policy, the feminization of poverty, and the intersections of gender, race, and class within economic lives. Cole is a passionate advocate for improving the economic lives of women from analyzing the economic impact of a paid family in Colorado, organizing women to run for public office with Colorado 50-50, or helping students to understand the value and importance of care in the economy through community engagement.

More Information:

“Invisible labor is real, and it hurts: What you need to know”

“Invisible Household Labor and Ramifications for Adjustment: Mothers as Captains of Households”

“Invisible Labor: The Cost of Invisible Work”