Women across the globe are highlighting their essential yet invisible roles through the 'World with Women' movement, calling for greater equality and recognition of unpaid labor.
World with Women calls for a work stoppage
On Tuesday, October 13, the World with Women movement invited all women to stop working for a day to highlight their essential role in society and call for greater equality.Women dominate essential jobs
Historian and sociologist Fanny Gallot and economist Rachel Silvera emphasized how women dominate essential jobs in education, health, and services, as well as perform a significant amount of domestic work that is often unpaid and overlooked.Workforce statistics reveal gender disparity
They described a typical Tuesday without women's contributions, noting that 71% of public school teachers are women, 99% of childcare assistants, and 97% of nannies. In offices, 73% of cleaning staff are women, and 97% of secretaries.Daily life would be disrupted
At noon, there would be no food as women typically manage canteens or prepare meals for their partners. In the evening, managing children's homework and hygiene would be challenging, as women make up 76% of cashiers.Healthcare would also suffer
Health care would also be affected, as 90% of nursing aides and 87% of nurses are women. At home, women handle 72% of laundry management, 62% of meal preparation, and 60% of housework in dual-income households with children under 14.Unpaid domestic work is "doublely invisible"
These tasks are described as "doublely invisible" due to their unpaid nature and the mental load they carry, such as organizing children's activities and administrative tasks. Fanny Gallot noted that while more men are participating in these tasks, they often do so on request rather than initiative.Economic impact of women’s absence
She emphasized that if all women stopped working, the country would be "completely paralyzed." The movement aims to highlight the essential, unpaid domestic work and the central role of sectors predominantly staffed by women.Reproductive work is vital to the economy
In her book Le Cœur du capital: ces travailleuses de l'ombre qui font tourner le monde, Gallot argues that reproductive work, which enables people to return to work and renew generations, accounts for about half of traditional GDP.Historical precedent in Iceland
This scenario is not fictional, as in 1975, approximately 90% of Icelandic women stopped working, both at work and at home, leading to closed schools, halted factories, and canceled flights. A year later, Iceland adopted the law on gender equality, and in 1980, Vigdis Finnbogadottir became the first female president of the country.Similar movements have led to change
Similar movements have occurred in Switzerland, Spain, and Argentina, where protests led to legal changes, including the right to abortion. World with Women aims to inspire similar engagement in France, with planned gatherings across the country.
