Notes to broadcasters
According to UN Women, care work “consists of activities and relations to meet the physical, psychological, and emotional needs of adults and children, old and young, frail and able-bodied. It includes direct caregiving activities related to caring for children, the elderly, people with illnesses, and people with disabilities, as well as indirect or domestic work such as cooking, cleaning, and collecting water, food and firewood … Unpaid care work refers to the services provided by individuals within a household or community without receiving any monetary compensation for the benefits of its members. Most unpaid care work takes place within families. Unpaid care work also occurs at the community level for people outside the home (friends, neighbours, and community members).”
All over the world, caregiving roles mostly fall on women and girls. In sub-Saharan Africa, women provide 3.4 times more unpaid care work than men. This restricts women’s opportunities for education and employment, and affects their social engagement and leisure time, thereby affecting women’s health and poverty levels.
In these spots, you will learn more about unpaid care and the gender inequities associated with it. Spot topics include:
- The need to appreciate and value women’s unpaid care work
- Unpaid care is productive work
- The need for everyone in the household to share care work
- A day in the life of an unpaid care worker
- The hidden impacts of unpaid care work on women
- Teaching children about sharing household responsibilities
- Empowering unpaid care workers is a community effort
- Helping your spouse with unpaid care work
- Say no to gender-based violence against unpaid care workers
- Employers can help unpaid care workers balance work and life
- Improving access to public resources helps unpaid care workers
- How the media can change narratives around unpaid care work
The spots vary in length from about 45-60 seconds and can be played multiple times during programs on health and gender equality, and other relevant programs.
The titles of the spots are intended only to identify the topic of the spot. They are not intended to be read aloud as part of the spot.
Script
Spot #1: Appreciating women’s unpaid care work
NARRATOR:
Men! It’s finally Friday, and the end of another long work week! You’ve worked hard!
But do you know what’s just as important as your work? The work your spouse does at home.
After a long, hard day at work, isn’t it nice to come home to a happy household? To know that the kids are all right? A home that functions well gives you peace of mind to focus better at work.
So today, appreciate your spouse for all the work they do at home.
Spot #2: Unpaid work is still productive work
SFX:
VOICES, LAUGHTER, BOTTLES CLINKING
UMAR:
David! You missed the first half! Where were you?
DAVID:
(LAMENTING) Man, Umar, you won’t believe it. It’s my crazy wife.
UMAR:
Ah, David. What did Abi do now?
DAVID:
(INCENSED) Can you imagine, after a long hard week at work, this woman was giving me stress. She’s home all week but acts like she’s the one going out to put food on the table. (HISSES WITH ANNOYANCE) She said that I should help her move some chairs.
UMAR:
Calm down, my friend. What happened?
DAVID:
I moved two, and then I left. Nonsense. Even God rested! It’s not fair. I’m the one who brings in all the money, and she just brings nagging and stress!
UMAR:
Ah David, you know that’s not true. You’re always talking about the delicious meals Abi makes and how smart and healthy your twins are. Isn’t that important as well?
DAVID:
(THOUGHTFUL) I guess so. She might not be bringing money in, but the work she does keeping us all happy and healthy is priceless!
UMAR:
Exactly. Her home work is essential, and is productive just like yours.
NARRATOR:
Unpaid work IS productive work! Without it, where would your family be?
Spot #3: Unpaid care work is everyone’s responsibility
NARRATOR:
Women do the vast majority of the cleaning, childcare, and other unpaid care work around the house and in the community.
This kind of work is often seen as women’s family responsibility and role. But women shouldn’t have to shoulder all the responsibility of this endless unpaid work alone!
Everyone in the household—men, women, and even older children can help out with unpaid care work. The burden should be divided more equally.
Remember that a working household is no different from an efficient factory, office, or production line—it needs all hands on deck.
So let’s all join hands together for a successful and happy home.
Spot #4: The job requirements: A day in the life of an unpaid care worker
MARIYA:
Wow, Zainab, check out the requirements for this job. It’s crazy.
ZAINAB:
It can’t be that bad, Mariya.
MARIYA:
Hmmm, you’ll see. The first requirement is “Must be on call 24/7, 365 days a year.”
ZAINAB:
What? No holidays? What if you’re sick!
MARIYA:
You’re expected to show up even if you’re sick. Oh and there’s no maternity leave. It looks like the only time you get a break from this unpaid work is when you’re actually delivering a baby, and maybe taking a little while to recover.
ZAINAB:
Yes, but it’s not as if childbirth is fun and games. That job description is pretty crazy. But the money must be good, right?
MARIYA:
(LAUGHS) What money? The salary is zero naira per month, and zero naira per year.
ZAINAB:
(SHOCKED) What?
Spot #5: Hidden effects of unpaid care work
NARRATOR:
Women and girls do the vast majority of unpaid care work—cleaning, taking care of the children, laundry, fetching wood and water.
Women do three to four times as much of this unpaid work than men in Sub-Saharan Africa. And this has serious impacts. It affects women physically and psychologically. But there are other, more hidden effects as well.
It limits women’s economic and educational opportunities, and their participation in social, cultural, and political activities.
So let’s fairly balance unpaid care work so that women can have lives and dreams outside of it.
Spot #6: Teach the next generation about unpaid care work
NARRATOR:
We need to change our attitudes towards women’s responsibility for unpaid care work, including domestic work. And the best time to start is when children are young.
Teach your children that unpaid care work is valuable and necessary for the household. It’s everyone’s responsibility, and should be shared equitably between girls and boys, and even men and women.
Domestic skills are useful for everyone. There are no tasks which are inherently meant for boys or for girls. Why can’t boys cook, or girls wash cars?
Start teaching your children now for a brighter future.
Spot #7: Empowering unpaid care workers is a community effort
NARRATOR:
Today, more and more people are aware of and sympathetic to the difficulties that unpaid care workers face in our society. These are the women who work endlessly at domestic and other care tasks in the household and community, without pay and often without appreciation.
But it’s not enough to make changes in our own households. We must create a whole society where unpaid care work and workers are respected and treated with dignity.
And one way to do that is to support policies and political movements that empower and protect the rights of care workers.
So vote for the best interests of your household!
Spot #8: Help your spouse with unpaid care work.
ENE:
(HAPPY) My son, you remembered me today. How are you?
JAMES:
(LAUGHS) Oh Mama, I can never forget you. I’m ok. I actually wanted to ask your advice about Lucy.
JAMES:
I don’t know oh, I want your advice on how I can talk to her. Since Junior was born, she has not been diligent at all.
JAMES:
Yesterday we invited some friends over, and by the time they came, she was still cleaning the house—can you imagine? Meanwhile, there was nothing to serve them. I had to run and buy some chicken from an eatery to avoid total embarrassment. I don’t know what to say to her, but she needs to shape up.
ENE:
(STERN) My son, I’m not happy with you.
ENE:
I didn’t raise you like that. When she was cleaning the house, what were you doing?
ENE:
Remember on your dad’s birthday, you and your brothers would help me. Even he would sometimes help me. You’re a team! So why won’t you help your wife?
JAMES:
(QUIETLY) I should have helped her.
ENE:
Yes, you should! Your household will run so much better if you help your spouse!
Spot #9: Say no to gender-based violence against unpaid care workers
DANJUMA:
Aisha has burned my food again. I’m sure she was watching Indian film and forgot it was on the fire.
BULUS:
(LAUGHS) One day she will put sugar instead of salt in your soup!
DANJUMA:
Bulus, you see it? Some men would have even beaten her for this to give her sense. She should thank her stars that I swore never to lay hands on a woman … (HISSES).
BULUS:
(SHOCKED) Over food? Dan, I’m sure it was a mistake. You shouldn’t even think like that. And why is it always her responsibility to do all the unpaid care work like cooking for you anyway? That’s not fair!
DANJUMA:
Yes, you’re right. (SHORT PAUSE) Ah, I’m not going to beat her. I’m just saying some guys would have done it.
BULUS:
I know, but it’s still mad. Like … can you imagine if every time we made a mistake on this farm, Mr. Sule beat us? Like that time you didn’t lock the gate and six goats escaped?
DANJUMA:
Stop bringing up ancient history.
BULUS:
If our boss didn’t beat you for actually costing him money, then I think burnt food can be forgiven.
DANJUMA:
(SIGHS) I’ll manage. I think I’ll have to wake up earlier to fix my lunch myself. I can’t be losing weight like this.
NARRATOR:
Gender-based violence should never occur for any reason, least of all because your partner is struggling with housework.
Spot #10: Employers can help unpaid care workers balance work and life
HOST:
Welcome back to
Women’s Business Hour on Your Radio, the number one radio station. We are with Yankat Frank at her business, Yankat Chips. Thank you for having us, Ms. Frank.
HOST:
I’ve been seeing your potato chips all over the state. You’re really doing well.
YANKAT:
Yes, we really expanded in the last couple of years. When the chips started selling, I knew I would have to take a small risk and expand. I’ve been blessed to have a great team around me.
HOST:
I see a lot of women working here. Was that planned?
YANKAT:
I have always dreamt about empowering women, and when I started this processing business, it was a good opportunity.
YANKAT:
I learned about the challenges young working mothers face balancing work and housework from my own experience. That’s why we try to have flexible hours. And next year, I hope we will have a space for mothers to bring their children during their work hours.
HOST:
You’re really helping them.
YANKAT:
I believe it’s important for employers to help their employees produce their best. It’s their right to be treated well! And by helping my staff, they can contribute financially to their homes while still helping them to run successfully!
Spot #11: Improving access to resources helps unpaid care workers
QUEEN:
My husband, who were those women that came to the palace yesterday? They talked with you for a long time.
CHIEF:
Hm? Oh those were some local women that live in the city now. They came to thank me, and wanted to know if there was anything they could do for the community. They were asking for my permission and endorsement as chief for their plans.
QUEEN:
(HAPPY) That’s good. I wish more people would remember us like that. You said they wanted to thank you? How come?
CHIEF:
Remember when we wanted to build the new well, and you suggested that we should build it nearer the town?
QUEEN:
Yes, people were against it because the water was father underground than the other location, but the other place was too far.
CHIEF:
(EXCITED) That’s what the women said. They said that building the well in town reduced the amount of time they spent fetching water, so they had more time to go to school and study.
QUEEN:
I’m not surprised—that journey to fetch water was not a joke. Twice a day! After the well was built, the pass rate in the final school exams went up. No wonder those girls came to thank you.
CHIEF:
I didn’t know that just locating a well in a more convenient place could do that.
QUEEN:
So what you’re saying is your wife, the Queen, is very, very wise. (BOTH LAUGH)
NARRATOR:
When you’re thinking about building infrastructure, talk to unpaid care workers! Ask them what they want and need, and include them in making the decision. When you consider their needs, you can brighten many futures!
Spot #12: How media and influencers can change narratives around unpaid care work
NARRATOR:
There are many ways to improve conditions for unpaid care workers. One way is for the people who work in the media and influencers to use their platforms to challenge and change the existing narrative that women are responsible for all care work.
We can reframe masculinity and show that men can also be good and competent caregivers and care workers.
We can amplify the voices of unpaid care workers and listen to their voices and concerns.
Media practitioners, let’s use our platform to make a difference in the lives of unpaid care workers.
Acknowledgements
Contributed by: Ted Phido, freelance writer, Lagos, Nigeria
Reviewed by: Zahra Sheikh Ahmed, Programme Analyst, Women’s Economic Empowerment, UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi.
This resource was produced through the ‘UCARE – Unpaid Care in sub-Saharan Africa‘ initiative, which aims to increase gender equality and women’s empowerment through a commitment to more just and equitable sharing of unpaid care and domestic work within the household and the family in sub-Saharan Africa. The project is implemented in partnership with Farm Radio International (FRI), UN Women, and The African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) thanks to funding from Global Affairs Canada.
