Holidays Are for Men, Not Women

Holidays Are for Men, Not Women

Historically, holidays have been a time of rest and relaxation for men, but for women, it’s been quite the opposite. While men sit back and enjoy the festivities, it’s women who bear the overwhelming burden of making the holiday “magical.” From cooking and cleaning to organizing, shopping, and buying gifts, the holidays are a season of extreme unpaid labor for women.

How often do we see men sprawled on the couch, watching football or enjoying a meal, while the mothers, daughters, and sisters are in the kitchen, managing the chaos, and doing all the work? The performance of a perfect holiday is built on the backs of women, and yet it’s men who often reap the rewards, enjoying the fruits of their labor without lifting a finger.

This holiday, it’s time to decenter men. Don’t buy them gifts, don’t cook or clean for them. Instead, make the holiday about you. Celebrate with yourself or with other women. This is your time to rest, recharge, and reclaim your energy. Save your time, save your money, and refuse to engage in the endless cycle of unpaid labor that the holidays too often demand from us. There’s a long fight ahead for women, and we need every resource we can get.

There’s a long fight ahead for women, and we need every resource we can get. Why spend hours navigating traffic, dealing with long airport lines, or traveling across the country just to be treated as an unpaid servant? This holiday, make it yours. Take control of how you spend this time, and redefine what “celebrating” means for you. You deserve to experience the holidays on your own terms. ♀