Invisible barrier: Impact of unpaid family care responsibilities on women and girls in Barcelona

In 2019, the International Monetary Fund determined that, globally, women earn 63% less than men but spend three times more hours on unpaid work.

Unpaid family care, or the care economy, is an essential component of any society. It involves caring for children, the elderly, the sick, or people with disabilities, as well as performing domestic chores. However, this burden disproportionately falls on women and girls.

The care economy is built on love, empathy, and the responsibility of sustaining the lives of loved ones. In most cases, it is mothers, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers who take on the main caregiving role at home. While this role performed by women is invaluable, its impact on their lives is deep and multifaceted.

The National Statistics Institute (INE) reported that by 2022, women were working over 60 hours per week, specifically 63.3 hours, compared to an average of 56.5 for men. However, when distinguishing between paid and unpaid work, the numbers change. In this case, the average for women almost doubles that of men: 26.5 hours versus 14. This inequality in the distribution of care responsibilities limits women’s access to education and professional development, hinders their enjoyment of leisure time, reduces their participation in political life, and contributes to the perpetuation of the gender gap in the labor market. In a world striving for gender equality and the elimination of barriers that prevent women from reaching their full potential, the care economy represents an invisible but powerful barrier.

Barriers to education access for young women
One of the most notable impacts of unpaid care responsibilities on women and girls is reflected in their formal education. Girls are often forced to take on caregiving roles at home from an early age, which can interfere with their school attendance and academic performance. The need to care for younger siblings or attend to ill family members can lead to frequent absences and reduced concentration in class. This disruption in education can result in higher dropout rates among girls compared to boys.

In addition, teenage girls may also be forced to drop out of school due to unplanned pregnancies, which in turn increases their caregiving burden as young mothers. This creates a cycle of disadvantage that can persist across generations. The lack of formal education limits their employment prospects and reduces their chances of achieving financial independence.

The influence of the care economy does not stop at primary and secondary education; it also extends to higher education. Women and girls who have taken on a disproportionate amount of family care often face significant challenges in accessing university education. Lack of time, resources, and support can make obtaining a degree an unattainable goal.

Despite progress in gender equality in higher education, the figures still reflect notable disparities. Women remain underrepresented in fields of study such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, partly due to the barriers arising from unshared caregiving responsibilities. This is confirmed by the most recent INE report, which shows that health and welfare disciplines continue to be the most studied by women—sectors not associated with high levels of remuneration.

Women graduates in higher education. Spain 2021