Understanding The Gendered Reality Of Burnout: Why Are Burnout Rates Higher In Women?
Burnout rates are 1.5 times higher in women than in men, but why is this the case?
What makes women more susceptible to burnout, and what can we do about it? The research paints a clear picture of the challenges women face in both their professional and personal lives.
The "Second Shift"
One major factor contributing to women’s higher burnout rates is the disproportionate amount of unpaid household labor women still shoulder. According to the OECD in 2023, women perform 2.3 times more unpaid labor than men. This includes tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and caregiving, responsibilities that often fall outside of their professional obligations. This creates a double burden, leading to chronic exhaustion.
Mental Overload
Women are also more likely to carry the mental load of their families. A McKinsey & LeanIn study in 2023 found that 72% of women are responsible for managing their family’s schedule, compared to just 22% of men. This constant juggling of work and home life contributes to mental overload, making it harder for women to find time to rest and recharge.
Multiplying Roles
Women often find themselves balancing both leadership roles and primary caregiving duties. This combination of responsibilities leads to chronic stress and exhaustion. Being expected to excel in both the workplace and at home without adequate support or recognition results in an unsustainable cycle of overwork and burnout.
Burnout Is a Systemic Issue
In Myrto Legaki's recent keynote at the “I Am Here for You” forum, organized by Liquid Media SA in honor of International Women's Day, she discussed a topic that resonates deeply with many women today: burnout, Superwoman Syndrome, and the changing landscape of work.
One of the key takeaways from the discussion was that burnout isn’t just an individual issue. It’s systemic. While individual resilience and self-care are important, we also need workplaces that foster a healthier, more sustainable environment for women. Specifically, organizations need to rethink workload distribution, redefine leadership expectations, and create space for long-term success without sacrificing wellbeing.
The Need for Change
The conversation was insightful and eye-opening, shedding light on the challenges women face in balancing professional aspirations and family duties. Most importantly, it served as a reminder that women don’t have to do it all alone. With support from our workplaces, and a shift toward more balanced systems, we can move towards creating a reality where success and wellbeing are within reach for everyone.
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