Abstract: The "Domestic Equality Index" (DEI) represents a pioneering approach in understanding and quantifying gender disparities within the domestic sphere. This index measures the balance of domestic responsibilities including unpaid care work, recognizing the often invisible labor performed predominantly by women. This tool aims to promote greater equity in the distribution of household tasks, challenging traditional market-based solutions by emphasizing time poverty and emotional labor.
Background: Despite progress in various aspects of gender equality, domestic labor remains a significantly gendered issue with profound societal implications. Traditional indicators often overlook the comprehensive nature of domestic and care work, hence the development of the DEI. The DEI integrates qualitative dimensions like emotional labor into its framework, providing a nuanced view of gender equality beyond economic indicators.
Methodology: The DEI is constructed through a community-participatory approach, involving stakeholders in the identification and weighting of various domestic tasks. This method ensures that the index reflects diverse experiences and needs, adapting to different cultural and economic contexts. The index aggregates data from individual and community surveys, capturing a wide range of domestic activities from core tasks like cooking and cleaning to emotional and cognitive labor involved in managing household dynamics.
Research Significance: This research is instrumental for entities advocating for gender equality, offering a robust tool to measure and advocate for changes in gender dynamics at the domestic level. It aligns with global goals such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5, pushing the boundaries of how gender equality is typically measured and promoted.
Implementation: The DEI is designed with flexibility to adapt to various socio-cultural contexts, making it a universal tool for measuring domestic gender equality. It encourages active participation from local communities and entities in its ongoing development and application, ensuring that it remains relevant and grounded in real-world dynamics.
Future Directions: The ongoing development of the DEI seeks to involve a wide range of stakeholders, from academic communities to political entities, ensuring that it becomes a part of the global conversation on gender equality. We invite collaborations and feedback to enhance its applicability and impact.
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