How women can protect themselves financially while doing unpaid work

Women need to protect themselves financially and handle the unpaid work burden that is usually theirs to shoulder. And for as long as this is the case, women will struggle to achieve true financial freedom.

“Although the South African constitution promotes equality, the African continent has deep-rooted patriarchal structures that see women responsible for the bulk of unpaid work,” Nonzaliseko Phamane, senior technology leader at Metropolitan, says.

According to the United Nations Women, women carry out at least two-and-a-half times more unpaid household and care work than men, from cooking and cleaning to fetching water and firewood or taking care of children and the elderly. As a result, they have less time to engage in paid labour, or work longer hours, combining paid and unpaid labour.

“Women’s unpaid work subsidises the cost of care that sustains families, supports economies and often fills in for the lack of social services. Yet, it is rarely recognised as ‘work’. Unpaid work has a considerable effect on the literacy and ultimately employment levels of women in South Africa, with female unemployment currently residing at 35.7% versus male unemployment, which is pegged at 29%,” says Phamane.

LISTEN: Why women struggle to retire as early or securely as men

South African women are often the primary caregivers at home, with mothers, sisters and grandmothers raising the children while the male family members go in search of employment. Even young girls are often viewed as caretakers or family helpers, increasing their likelihood of dropping out of school.

“Women all too often find themselves in a position where they must balance work and earning an income with the unpaid time and effort required to take care of a family, raise children and run a household. This can result in them seeking informal opportunities to earn some form of income, while not neglecting those who matter most to them.”

ALSO READ: Mind the pay and jobs gap: A look at women’s role in the SA economy

Unpaid work linked to difference in earnings

An Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) paper highlights the link between unpaid work and the disparity between male and female earnings, arguing that the gender gap in unpaid care work has significant implications for women’s ability to actively take part in the labour market and the type or quality of employment opportunities available to them.

“Time is a limited resource, which is divided between labour and leisure, productive and reproductive activities, paid and unpaid work. Every minute more that a woman spends on unpaid care work represents one minute less that she could be potentially spending on market-related activities or investing in her educational and vocational skills.”

Phamane says there is no doubt that being financially independent offers more freedom of choice for women. “Ideally, in an equal society, women would have the same opportunities and resources as men, but the reality is that they do not. For women doing a significant amount of unpaid work which impacts their earning ability, they must be able to advocate for themselves financially.”

She advises women to have open and honest conversations with their partners about the roles they play within the family as well as around their dreams and how they can support each other in reaching these goals. Discuss what reasonable rewards would be for both of you, she suggests.

“Be on the lookout for state or privately sponsored programmes for women and take advantage of them. There is a focus on gender equality in South Africa and awareness of programmes that specifically support females.” Starting a side hustle will also assist in bringing in additional funds.

Phamane adds that if a woman is in a relationship or situation where she is doing unpaid work while her partner earns the bulk of the income, she must protect her lifestyle by ensuring that she can survive should something happen to the breadwinner.

ALSO READ: SA unemployment rate still shockingly high and unlikely to drop soon

Women need this kind of cover

“This is where risk cover is particularly important,” says Phamane. Women in this position should strongly consider these three types of cover:

• Funeral cover: should the breadwinner pass away, will there be money for the funeral? Funeral cover pays out quickly (usually within a day or two) to ensure that there is immediate access to funds.
• Life cover: should the breadwinner pass away, will there be money to pay rent or the bond? Will there be money to pay for school fees or studies? Will there be money to pay for daily needs? Life cover pays out a larger amount of money that can be invested or used to pay off debt.
• Critical illness and disability cover: this cover will provide for the care of a loved one, should they fall ill or become disabled and lose their ability to earn an income.

Phamane says these products will help to ensure that a woman can continue taking care of her family without having to worry about where the money to survive will come from. “In addition, making sure you or you and your partner have a will in place will also help to save time, clear up uncertainty and speed up the process of wrapping up an estate after a breadwinner passes away.”

If a woman is doing a large portion of unpaid work and is not the breadwinner because she is a stay-at-home mom, a caregiver, someone who works part-time or earns inconsistently, or perhaps works full-time but still earns significantly less than her partner, it is especially vital that she advocates for herself and ensures that she is protected financially should something happen to the breadwinner, Phamane says.