“Labour” song: I’m neither a wife nor a mother, yet this song burns my heart.
A moment of anger.
Hii.. Hope you’re feeling good.
Have you ever listened to the “Labour” song by Paris Paloma? Yes, we’re going to talk about that song.
This song is a monument to the sadness and anger women feel about their roles in society.
Despite the rapid transformations of the 21st century, the burdens on women persist. Yes, opportunities have improved, but when I first heard this song across social media, its lyrics struck me like a thunderclap. My chest tightened. My mind reeled. I spent days rethinking the song. What experience made me feel this way? And all I can think of is only my mother.
One inheritance of a mother to their eldest daughter was their trauma, probably during their pre-married life or post-married life. I inherited her open-wound scar in her heart from her past experiences as a virgin to a role which made her do much labour. And that’s why this song really echoed in my heart.
I could have forgotten all of those past moments because she passed away, then I should move on, and I should continue my life, but surely it’s not that easy to forget all of those painful crying and suffocating chests and to witness her anger but left unnoticed up in the air. This stuff made me want to get revenge on whoever had hurt my mother in the name of “duty.”
“All day, every day, therapist, mother, maid
Nymph then a virgin, nurse then a servant
Just an appendage, live to attend him
So that he never lifts a finger
24∕7, baby machine
So he can live out his picket fence dreams
It's not an act of love if you make her
You make me do too much labour”
This part, this part that made the whole internet, made it like a national anthem, this part that made women more in touch and agree with each other and more tight than ever. I’ve also seen many scenes where women do a lot of labour in their families. The daughter is always expected to be a good child with obedience, they are also expected to multitask at one time, while the son is rarely to do the domestic job.
According to European Institute for Gender Equality shows that 91 % of women with children spend at least an hour per day on housework, compared with 30 % of men with children. The latest available data shows that employed women spend about 2.3 hours daily on housework; for employed men, this figure is 1.6 hours.
Other data from the Gender Equity Policy Institute states that women tend to spend more time doing unpaid work in the home. In an average week, women spend 12,6 hours doing household chores like cooking, and cleaning. Men spend only 5,7 hours. Women also spend twice as much as men taking care of children. This is a form of unequal division of unpaid work for women after they enter the marriage phase.
That domestic jobs are mundane but fundamental in life. Imagine, someone needs another human being to take care of their bits and bites in life. Oh, sure, if they have money, they can hire other people to do it. However, men are the ones who get the benefit of those women’s labour. Oh yes, men are traditionally seen as breadwinners and yes they are naturally born to be a provider—I agree. But does that justify the oppression they may impose in domestic life?"
But this happens because these men have been treated like kings since childhood and naturally expect the same from their wives. I see this scene too often in my life.
One day, when I was out in the supermarket, I saw two lovebirds with their son under their gaze. They both looked pale and tired, probably after a long day of work. But one seems different, she looked messy with her messy hair and dishevelled clothes. In my neighbourhood, patriarchy is still commonplace. Looking at her like that made me think that she must have done a lot of labour in her marriage. Don’t mention the labour to earn money. I’ve seen women lose their beauty after their marriage, of course, there are too many beautiful marriages out there. Thinking about the bad side only lessens the beauty of this life.
So, ladies, please, choose your partner wisely.
Source:
Admin. (2024, July 2). Global Gender Gap in Unpaid Care: Why Domestic Work Still Remains a Woman’s Burden. FREE NETWORK. https://freepolicybriefs.org/2021/12/20/gender-gap-unpaid-care/
gpmain@thegepi.org. (2025, March 12). The Free-Time Gender Gap - Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI). Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI). https://thegepi.org/the-free-time-gender-gap/
Gender differences on household chores entrenched from childhood. (n.d.). European Institute for Gender Equality. https://eige.europa.eu/publications-resources/toolkits-guides/gender-equality-index-2021-report/gender-differences-household-chores?language_content_entity=en
That’s it. Thank you so much for reading this.
Appreciate it.
