Philosophy Workshop: “Mental Load: A Mother’s Invisible Burden”

Philosophy Workshop: “Mental Load: A Mother’s Invisible Burden” is organised by the association Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco on Wednesday 13 March 2024, at 5.30 pm in Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace.

The phrase “mental load” was coined by sociologists in the 1980s to describe the cognitive aspect of physical labour. The concept was quickly seized on by feminists to highlight the unrecognised burden that falls on women caring for their families. Mental load is now understood to refer to the psychological, cognitive, and emotional implications of looking after others, particularly young children, and the stress placed on women, who bear an unequal share of responsibility for care.