- Says UNICEF
Girls between 5 and 14 years old spend 40
per cent more time, or 160 million more hours a day, on unpaid household chores
and collecting water and firewood, than boys their age, according to a report
released by UNICEF ahead of International Day of the Girl on 11 October.
“Harnessing
the Power of Data for Girls: Taking stock and looking ahead to 2030”provides
the first global estimates on the time girls spend doing household chores such
as cooking, cleaning, caring for family members and collecting water and
firewood.
The
data show that the disproportionate burden of domestic work begins early, with
girls between 5 and 9 years old spending 30 per cent more time, or 40 million
more hours a day, on household chores than boys their age. The numbers rise as
girls get older, with 10 to 14 year olds spending 50 per cent more time, or 120
million more hours each day.
“The
overburden of unpaid household work begins in early childhood and intensifies
as girls reach adolescence,” said UNICEF’s Principal Gender Advisor
AnjuMalhotra. “As a result, girls
sacrifice important opportunities to learn, grow, and just enjoy their
childhood. This unequal distribution of labour among children also perpetuates
gender stereotypes and the double-burden on women and girls across
generations.”
The
report notes that girls’ work is less visible and often undervalued. Too often
adult responsibilities such as caring for family members, including other
children, are imposed on girls. Time spent on chores limits a girl’s time to
play, socialize with friends, study and be a child. In some countries,
collecting firewood and water puts girls at risk of sexual violence.
The report also found that:
• Girls
between 10 and 14 years old in South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa
spend nearly double the amount of time on household chores compared to boys.
• The
countries where girls between 10 and 14 years old bear the most
disproportionate burden of household chores compared to boys are; Burkina Faso,
Yemen and Somalia.
• 10
to 14 year-old girls in Somalia spend the most amount of time on household
chores in total: 26 hours every week.
“Quantifying
the challenges girls face is the first critical step towards meeting the
Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality and breaking-down barriers that
confront the world’s 1.1 billion girls,” said UNICEF Chief of Data and
Analytics Attila Hancioglu.
“Harnessing
the Power of Data for Girls: Taking stock and looking ahead to 2030” notes that
data for two thirds of the 44 girl-related indicators in the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) – the global roadmap to end poverty, protect the
planet and ensure prosperity for all – are either limited or poor. In addition
to household chores, the report presents data on girl-related issues addressed
by the SDGs including violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation and
education. Achieving the SDGs that address these issues and empowering girls
with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to reach their full
potential, is not only good for girls, but can drive economic growth, promote
peace and reduce poverty
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