It is no surprise that girls spend more time doing unpaid household chores than boys. Girls spend 40 per cent more time, which is an incredible 160 million more hours of chores per day. In some countries, this figure is a lot higher. A report from the United Nations children's agency UNICEF highlights this gap. UNICEF stated. "Girls sacrifice important opportunities to learn, grow and just enjoy their childhood." It added: "This unequal distribution of labour among children also perpetuates gender stereotypes and the double burden on women and girls across generations."
Most work done by girls is physically demanding. Two-thirds of girls cook and clean in the home, while half collect firewood or water. They also care for children and elderly relatives. In Somalia, girls aged between 10 and 14 spend 26 hours a week on household chores. The report coincides with the UN's International Day of the Girl Child, which is on October 11. UNICEF said: "Quantifying the challenges girls face is the first critical step towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality and breaking down barriers that confront the world's 1.1 billion girls."
