This policy brief summarises Young Lives findings on the disproportionate share of unpaid care work done by women and girls across the world and suggests ways policy and practice can support a more equal distribution with men and boys. Evidence identifies adolescence as the key inflection point when gendered inequalities in unpaid care emerge and shows how girls and women take on the lion’s share of unpaid care during crises, including COVID, conflicts and climate shocks. This is important to shape future policy action aimed at the recognition, redistribution, and reduction of unpaid care work, critical steps toward achieving gender equality.  

This brief is part of the Young Lives programme.

Ford K and others. ‘Lightening the load: new evidence on the impacts of unpaid care work on women and girls’ Young Lives Policy Paper 2025

Lightening the load: new evidence on the impacts of unpaid care work on women and girls