At the tail end of Women’s History Month, we reflect on how women have contributed to and transformed contemporary society. The theme for WHM in 2021 is “Choose to Challenge.” This theme challenges everyone to consider how they participate in creating a more inclusive, less biased world regarding gender equality.
According to recent statistics, 66% of caregivers are female. In other words, women frequently take on the responsibility of caring for an aging parent, which can adversely impact other areas of their life, such as finances. About a third (33%) of working women must reduce their work hours in order to look after their parent(s). Then there’s the negative impact on a caregiver’s retirement fund, which averages $40,000 more for women than for a man.
These discrepancies alert us of the inherent biases that we may have in regards to caretaking. As a society, we should all seek ways to alleviate the burden of caregiving on women. We should find ways to create a supportive and trusted network of both men and women that can share in the duties of caring for an aging parent or adult with disabilities. We should also create workforce options for women that still want to work but need more scheduling flexibility to care for family members with special needs.
Let’s all challenge ourselves to examine our biases in caregiving responsibilities and find ways to support our female caregivers in the homecare industry. Learn more about Housen’s caregivers here.
