Podcast Summary: Wages For Housework with Emily Kolachi | Episode 325

Podcast Information:

• Title: This Is Woman's Work with Nicole Kalil
• Host: Nicole Kalil
• Episode: Wages For Housework with Emily Kolachi | 325
• Release Date: July 9, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 325 of This Is Woman's Work, host Nicole Kalil delves into the often-overlooked realm of unpaid domestic labor with historian and author Emily Kolachi. The conversation centers on the historical and contemporary significance of housework, its undervaluation in society, and the feminist movement's efforts to reframe and compensate this essential work.

Rant Against the Devaluation of Domestic Labor

Nicole begins the episode with a passionate exposition on the frustration surrounding the lack of recognition for domestic labor. She highlights the exhaustive nature of household management, caregiving, and parenting, emphasizing that these roles lack formal acknowledgment, compensation, and clear delineation—unlike paid employment outside the home.

"They're right. They absolutely couldn't have done it without them." [01:07] – Nicole Kalil

She underscores the paradox where unpaid labor enables others to thrive professionally without equivalent recognition or support.

Introducing Emily Kolachi and Her Work

Nicole introduces Emily Kolachi, a professor of history at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Emily's latest book, Wages for the Feminist Fight Against Unpaid Labor, explores the 1970s feminist movement advocating for the recognition and compensation of unpaid domestic work.

"Wages for housework, it's a feminist movement from the 70s." [04:19] – Emily Kolachi

Emily shares her personal connection to the topic, explaining how balancing academia and parenting led her to investigate the historical movement advocating for wages for housework.

Exploring the Wages for Housework Movement

Emily provides a comprehensive overview of the Wages for Housework movement, detailing the contributions of five pivotal women who expanded the conversation beyond traditional feminist issues like equal pay and abortion rights. These women argued that without recognizing and compensating domestic labor, broader societal inequalities remain unaddressed.

Profiles of Key Figures

1. Selma James
   A Brooklyn native and member of the Socialist Workers Party, Selma's activism bridged class and gender, highlighting the indispensable role of women's unpaid labor in sustaining the economy.

   "If you're talking about class politics and you're only talking about people who go to the workplace... you're missing a big part of it." [06:31] – Emily Kolachi

2. Mare Rosa Della Costa
   An Italian activist involved in the 1960s student and labor movements, Mare Rosa challenged the narrow definition of work confined to factories, advocating for the inclusion of home-based labor.

3. Silvia Federici
   An Italian philosophy PhD student in New York, Silvia connected austerity measures and budget cuts to the increased burden on women to perform unpaid care work.

4. Wilmette Brown
   A Black lesbian woman from Newark, NJ, Wilmette critiqued the Black Panther Party's gender politics and emphasized the historical exploitation of Black women's unpaid labor.

5. Margaret Prescod
   Hailing from Barbados, Margaret highlighted the global dimensions of unpaid labor, focusing on immigrant women whose domestic work underpins the economies of cities like London and New York.

"They were trying to change the whole system of how our economy works." [07:01] – Emily Kolachi

The Economic Valuation of Unpaid Labor

Nicole and Emily discuss the staggering economic value of unpaid domestic work. Emily cites data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which estimates the value of women's unpaid labor at approximately $3.6 trillion annually.

"I just looked it up, and I'm not an economist, but the U.S. bureau of Labor Statistics tried to calculate the value of women's work... $3.6 trillion a year." [13:26] – Emily Kolachi

This valuation underscores the foundational role of domestic labor in sustaining the broader economy, challenging the conventional metrics that exclude such contributions.

Intersectionality and Inclusive Advocacy

The conversation highlights how the Wages for Housework movement intersected with issues of race, class, and immigration. Emily emphasizes the inclusive efforts of the movement to unite diverse groups of women in advocating for the recognition and compensation of unpaid labor.

"They did try to think about what does the suburban housewife in the kind of heterosexual nuclear family share with someone who is living and dealing with the extra work that comes with environmental racism." [16:51] – Emily Kolachi

Shifting Perceptions and Generational Changes

Nicole reflects on the enduring relevance of the movement, noting that despite being rooted in the 1970s, the issues remain pressing today. She cites Jessica Clark's book, How Women have Become America's Safety Net, reinforcing the idea that women's unpaid labor sustains societal functions without adequate recognition.

Emily observes a shift in younger generations' attitudes, especially post-pandemic, where the visibility of essential caregiving roles has increased, fostering greater awareness and support for valuing unpaid labor.

"I think part of it has to do with the pandemic. That was a time when you couldn't hide all the work that goes on." [20:12] – Emily Kolachi

Proposed Solutions: Valuing and Compensating Unpaid Labor

The discussion transitions to potential solutions for recognizing and compensating unpaid domestic work. Emily outlines several policy proposals and initiatives that aim to address these issues:

1. Care Income
   An evolution of the original Wages for Housework concept, Care Income seeks to provide financial support for parents, caregivers, and community-based care work.

   "They're fighting for what they call care income now that really recognizes the rights of parents to care for their children." [22:34] – Emily Kolachi

2. Green New Deal Integration
   Linking environmental sustainability with social care, this approach reorients the economy to prioritize caregiving and environmental protection over profit-driven industries.

3. Guaranteed or Basic Income
   Providing a universal stipend that acknowledges and compensates individuals for their contributions to society through unpaid labor.

4. Child Tax Credit Expansion
   Policies like the Child Tax Credit have demonstrated positive outcomes by alleviating child poverty and recognizing the economic value of caregiving.

"I think a combination of those things, you know, would really kind of help this issue." [26:19] – Emily Kolachi

Individual vs. Collective Approaches

Nicole and Emily debate the efficacy of individual versus collective strategies in addressing the undervaluation of unpaid labor. While individual solutions—such as stipends within households—offer immediate relief, Emily emphasizes that systemic change is essential for lasting impact.

"You can't solve this as an individual. It requires a collective change." [28:49] – Emily Kolachi

Nicole adds that societal recognition, such as equitable parental leave and care leave policies, is crucial for supporting individuals without relying solely on personal negotiations within families.

The Role of Men in Valuing Domestic Labor

The conversation addresses the importance of men's involvement in domestic work to elevate its value. Nicole shares personal experiences highlighting the double standards faced by women in both professional and domestic spheres.

Emily counters by suggesting that societal valuation should precede increased participation by men, ensuring that the recognition of domestic labor is not contingent solely on who performs it.

"It should come first, and then maybe men would want to do it more rather than because men are doing it." [34:47] – Emily Kolachi

This mutual recognition and appreciation can lead to a more equitable distribution of domestic responsibilities, fostering respect and value for all caregiving roles.

Conclusion: The Essentiality of Valuing Women's Work

Nicole wraps up the episode with a powerful call to action, stressing the indispensability of unpaid domestic labor and the need for societal recognition and compensation.

"It's time we all stop pretending that the work inside the home is anything less than real, valuable, essential labor... that is woman's work." [36:35] – Nicole Kalil

She encourages listeners to support Emily Kolachi’s work by purchasing her book, Wages for Housework, and to continue advocating for the recognition and valuation of caregiving and domestic responsibilities.

Listeners are encouraged to explore Emily Kolachi’s insights further by reading her book, available at bookshop.org or local bookstores.