Under quarantine, men must share with women the increased burden of household chores

Photo by UN News Service/E. Vapnichnaya. During quarantine, men must share housework with women.

During the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many women not only have to work long hours or in hospitals and stores during the day, but also have to clean the house, do the laundry, cook, feed the children, play with them, or care for elderly relatives. And this is an incomplete list of housework, which in many families falls on the shoulders of women and girls. The UN has called on men to end this injustice.

In a campaign of solidarity with women: “HeForShe At Home,” which can be translated as “He for Her Rights – At Home,” the UN has called on men, boys and girls to take on some of their domestic responsibilities. The HeForShe campaign was initiated by UN Women, the UN’s women’s empowerment arm.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of people around the world isolated. And in this situation, gender inequality has become even more evident. These days, women are doing three times more unpaid housework than men. And they are on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus. Women make up 70 percent of health and social service workers.

The HeForShe at Home campaign is designed to convince men to balance the burden of household responsibilities. The UN encourages men to share their experiences and how they are taking over some of the housework – mastering a new vacuum cleaner, playing with children, washing dishes, etc.

Men, share your positive experiences on social media and inspire others!” Use the hashtag #HeForSheAtHome