Analyzing the Double Burden of Working Women in Household Social Constructs

Introduction

The evolution of the modern era and economic demands have significantly increased women's participation in the public sphere. However, women's entry into the workforce has not been fully matched by an equitable division of roles within the household.

This phenomenon gives rise to what is known as thedouble burden, a condition where women are expected to fulfill professional responsibilities at work while simultaneously bearing the majority of domestic labor (Rojak, 2025).

Rather than being viewed as a structural issue, these sacrifices are often normalized by society through the romanticized narrative of the versatilesuperwoman.

This reality of inequality is reflected in various national media reports. According to a BBC News Indonesia report (2024), both office workers and factory laborers face physical and mental exhaustion due to full-time work demands that must be followed by the responsibility of managing the household and raising children.

This condition demonstrates that women not only face professional work demands but also perform domestic labor that often receives neither recognition nor a fair distribution of responsibility.

The inequality of the double burden is not formed naturally; rather, it is influenced by social constructs through communication practices and patriarchal culture.

As explained in the book Communication and Gender (Tripalupi, 2024), the process of gender socialization that occurs through language, family interaction, and mass media contributes to shaping stereotypes regarding the division of tasks between men and women.

Such constructs can create psychological pressure and feelings of guilt for working women when they are perceived as unable to meet the domestic expectations prevalent in society.

Furthermore, the social construction of the female double burden is linked to the internalization of cultural values that have implications for unequal power relations in society (Septyawan & Imron, 2026).

Therefore, this article aims to analyze how the inequality of the double burden for working women is formed and maintained through social constructs, and how this phenomenon can be examined using feminist and gender communication perspectives.

Through a discussion of power relations and symbolic construction in daily life, this article emphasizes the importance of changing perspectives on the division of domestic roles to achieve social justice in both private and public spheres.

Discussion

The Double Burden of Women in Household Life

The phenomenon of thedouble burdenexperienced by working women cannot be separated from how society views the division of roles between men and women in both domestic and public life.

As highlighted in the BBC News Indonesia report (2024), both office workers and factory laborers can face physical and mental exhaustion due to professional work demands followed by the obligation to manage the household.

This condition shows that increasing women's participation in the workforce does not automatically change the structure of responsibility distribution within the family.

In many households, a woman's opportunity to work actually adds to the responsibilities she must carry without being followed by a proportional change in the division of domestic labor.

As a result, women are prone to limited rest time, emotional pressure, and difficulty maintaining a balance between personal life, family, and work.

Patriarchal Construction and Gender Role Inequality

From the perspective of social communication, this inequality is related to the strong influence of patriarchal culture in regulating relationships and the division of roles within the family environment.

Khodijah and Yuliana (2026) explain that patriarchal construction in family communication can position the husband as the primary breadwinner, while the wife is positioned as the party responsible for domestic work, even if she also works in the public sector.

Daily communication patterns within the household can also reinforce this inequality. The use of language, labeling, and assumptions regarding work deemed appropriate for men and women can potentially form the understanding that domestic affairs are primarily the woman's responsibility.

For example, the assumption that a husband only needs to "help his wife" with housework indirectly positions domestic labor as the wife's obligation, rather than a shared responsibility.

Such views demonstrate how language and communication play a significant role in maintaining unequal gender constructs.

Internalization of Traditional Values and Power Relations

Inequality in the division of roles within the family is also related to the internalization of traditional values passed down from generation to generation (Salsabilla & Afrizal, 2026).

From a young age, girls are often introduced to domestic responsibilities, while boys are more directed toward the role of breadwinner.

The formation of this mindset can influence the relationship between husband and wife when building a household.

The situation becomes more complex in young families or child marriages. Nurjanah et al. (2026) examined the meaning of the double burden for women in child-marriage families and its relevance to social studies education.

In the context of unequal family relationships, limited ability to negotiate or bargaining power can affect a woman's freedom to express her needs, exhaustion, or objections to the division of household chores.

Women in a weak bargaining position are at risk of accepting excessive domestic responsibilities due to social pressure to maintain family harmony.

In reality, household harmony should be built through open communication, appreciation for the needs of each family member, and a mutually agreed-upon division of responsibilities.

Feminist Perspective and Gender Communication

From a feminist perspective, the double burden can be understood as a form of gender injustice arising from the unequal division of productive and reproductive labor.

Productive work is generally associated with activities that generate income, while reproductive work includes childcare, caring for family members, and various domestic activities that support daily life.

The problem is that domestic work, which has significant social and economic value, often does not receive equal recognition because it is considered a natural obligation of women.

Through a gender communication approach, this phenomenon can be analyzed from the process of meaning formation, language use, and the dissemination of stereotypes regarding the ideal woman in society.

Tripalupi (2024), in the book Communication and Gender, discusses the relationship between communication practices and gender construction that influences how society understands the roles of men and women.

The image of the ideal woman as someone who must succeed in her career while also being able to manage all household affairs can create its own pressure.

When these standards are continuously reproduced through family communication, the social environment, and mass media, women are prone to feeling guilty when they are unable to meet all the demands placed upon them.

Therefore, the feminist critique of the double burden is not intended to ignore the importance of the family, but to encourage a fairer division of responsibilities and to recognize the contributions of every household member.

Building Equal Family Communication

Efforts to overcome the double burden on women require a change in how society views the division of domestic roles.

As discussed by Septyawan and Imron (2026), the social construction of the female double burden is linked to values developing in society and the importance of critical understanding through education.

In family life, change can begin by building open and equal communication between husband and wife.

The division of household chores should not be determined solely by gender, but should consider the time, ability, work conditions, and needs of each family member.

Furthermore, gender education needs to be strengthened from an early age so that boys and girls understand that domestic work is a life skill and a shared responsibility.

Mass media also plays an important role in building a fairer representation of family life, so that the narrative of women as the party who must be able to handle all household responsibilities is no longer considered the ideal.

Thus, change is not enough at the individual level; it also requires support from the social environment, education, and a communication culture that values equality.

Conclusion

The phenomenon of the double burden experienced by working women shows that increasing women's participation in the public sphere has not been fully followed by a fair division of responsibilities in household life.

This inequality is not only related to individual issues but is also influenced by social constructs, patriarchal cultural values, and communication practices that form stereotypes regarding the roles of men and women.

Through feminist and gender communication perspectives, the double burden can be understood as a structural issue that requires a change in perspectives and relationship patterns within the family.

Therefore, egalitarian family communication, the elimination of gender stereotypes, and a more proportional division of domestic labor are necessary.

Gender equality does not mean eliminating the role of one party in the family, but creating a relationship that is mutually respectful, supportive, and responsible.

With the realization of a fairer division of roles, women have a greater opportunity to develop their potential without having to bear excessive domestic pressure. Ultimately, this change is expected to create a more harmonious, humanistic, and just family and society.

Bibliography

BBC News Indonesia. (2024). Working women and the double burden: When careers rise but housework remains in the wife's hands. BBC News Indonesia.

Khodijah, D. N., & Yuliana, N. (2026). Patriarchal construction in gender role division and the female double burden in social communication. Brand Communication, 5(1), 1–7.

Nurjanah, R. A., Imron, A., & Setyawan, K. G. (2026). The meaning of the double burden for women in child-marriage families and its relevance to social studies education. Jurnal Dialektika Pendidikan IPS, 6(1), 252–263.

Rojak, J. A. (2025). Gender gaps in work-life balance: An analysis of the double burden and domestic roles. Jurnal Ekonomi dan Bisnis, 15(2), 34–48.

Salsabilla, A. R. A., & Afrizal, S. (2026). Analysis of gender inequality in the division of family roles. Arus Jurnal Sosial dan Humaniora, 6(1), 919–923.

Septyawan, N. E., & Imron, A. (2026). Social construction of the double burden of female laborers and its relevance in social studies education. ARMADA: Jurnal Penelitian Multidisiplin, 4(8), 4101–4111.

Tripalupi, M. F. (2024). Communication and Gender. Untag Surabaya Press.