Domestic Stewardship and Mental Burden

The Public Ally Incongruence

To build credible inclusive leadership, it is essential to start in the private sphere.

There is a frequent disconnect in the corporate world: professionals who publicly advocate for gender equality in their companies, but maintain traditional and unequal dynamics within their own households.

This lack of consistency undermines the authenticity of leadership, as it is impossible to truly understand the barriers women face at work if they are ignored or perpetuated in family life.

Statistics show that the "male provider and female homemaker" model is today a minority, representing less than 30% of households.

However, even in families where both men and women work or where the woman is the main source of income (41% of women are sole providers globally), they continue to assume the vast majority of domestic responsibilities.

This "double day" limits career growth opportunities for women in a way that rarely affects men, simply because at home we are not doing our fair share.

A modern leader must understand that equity begins when you cross the threshold of the front door at home.

From "Helping" to Shared Management

The concept of "helping out at home" is itself problematic, as it implies that the primary responsibility is the woman's and the man is merely an assistant.

True co-responsibility implies taking on the mental burden, not just the execution of tasks.

A simple test of real involvement would be to ask: Do you know the exact dosage of medicine your child takes when he or she has a fever or when the household insurance payment is due without having to consult your partner? If the answer is no, there is an involvement gap.

To correct this, concrete actions must be implemented: not just going to the supermarket, but planning the weekly menu and managing the pantry inventory; not just taking the children to school, but being in school communication groups and managing their academic assignments.

Taking on deep cleaning tasks (bathrooms, vacuuming) and logistics management frees up the couple's time and mental energy, which reduces conflict and increases marital satisfaction.

In addition, it is vital to establish daily conversations to recalibrate the distribution of tasks, especially when the couple's car