An opinion by Syed Zain Ali Abbas

For generations, society has treated men’s labor as a duty and women’s labor as a luxury. A man’s job is considered a responsibility, while a woman’s is too often framed as a “choice” or a symbol of empowerment. But the truth is far deeper: women are not working for leisure or privilege. They are working because families depend on them, because financial stability requires their contribution, and because their aspirations deserve to be realized just as much as men’s.

When a woman spends her day in the office and comes home to manage household chores, she is carrying a double burden that often goes unseen. Men who return from work are celebrated for their effort called hard-working, praised as good fathers, admired for their sacrifice. Women, however, are judged for their appearance, told not to look tired, expected to cook, clean, and maintain a smile no matter how draining the day has been. The same exhaustion that earns men respect is used against women as criticism. This double standard strips away recognition from the labor women perform both inside and outside the home.

Many women step into the workforce out of necessity. Some do it to support aging parents whose pensions are not enough in today’s economy. Others take on jobs to ensure their children can access education, healthcare, and a better life. There are daughters who shoulder responsibilities in families without sons, determined to prove that they are not “less than,” and wives who work alongside their husbands to keep households stable. In all these cases, their labor is an act of responsibility an effort to hold families together in times of rising expenses and uncertainty.

And yet, even when both partners return home equally tired, the distribution of household work is rarely equal. Women are still expected to cook, clean, and manage the family’s needs, while men often rest. As one perspective in the discussion pointed out, true balance is only possible when responsibilities are shared: if both come home hungry, one should cook while the other cleans; if both are tired, both deserve rest. This simple fairness can ease the burden and move families away from the toxic “men vs women” mindset toward one of cooperation and shared humanity.

The narrative must shift. Working women are not enjoying a luxury; they are balancing dual responsibilities with resilience and quiet strength. They are proving, every single day, that labor is not defined by gender—it is defined by commitment, sacrifice, and necessity. Their efforts must be recognized not as an exception or an add-on to their “real role” at home, but as responsibility in its truest sense. Just like men, women work because they must, because they want to contribute, and because they are capable.

If society continues to treat women’s labor as optional, it will continue to undervalue half of its strength. Instead, we must create a culture that recognizes women’s work as equal responsibility—one that honors their economic contribution, respects their domestic labor, and supports their need for rest and care. Only then can we move beyond stereotypes and truly value labor for what it is: an act of responsibility, regardless of who performs it.

About the Author

Syed Zain Ali Abbas is an engineer and a curious soul who loves writing about people, society, and the small things that create big change. He believes in equality, empathy, and giving voice to ideas that inspire.