What the Juggle Is All About
In the modern era, women are promised equality and the ability to have it all – a partner, career, family, friendships, and wellness, all within reach. But as we celebrate breaking the metaphorical glass ceiling it has become clear that this is an ongoing struggle, not a definitive endpoint. The reality remains: women are still the primary jugglers of household responsibilities, caregiving, childcare, and professional ambition, often at great personal cost.
The Juggle Economy™ is the byproduct of an evolving world where work and life are no longer separate spheres. Digital connectivity has erased boundaries, the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally reshaped work-life expectations, and modern parenting requires more vigilance than ever. At the same time, with an increase in the life expectancy of aging parents and the progressively more complex and online world, the pressures of providing childcare and elder care are forcing women to burn the candle at both ends. The result? A generation of women stretched thin in all areas of life.
Household and caregiving tasks are often accepted as “invisible work,” while requiring significant cognitive energy. As found in a recent survey conducted by Skylight and The Harris Poll, if parents were compensated for their domestic labor they would earn an additional $60,000 annually. It is women who shoulder a disproportionate share of this work. Mothers account for 78% of primary caregivers and reportedly take on 75% of the mental load in their households.
This often unrecognized labor takes a tangible toll. Women report that 64% of the time they are the default parent responsible for responding to their children’s needs, compared to just 22% of men. Even during work hours, 17% of women manage personal responsibilities daily – from arranging childcare to scheduling medical appointments. As a result, women with children are twice as likely to consider leaving the workforce, reducing their hours, or declining promotions to allow them to continue managing the juggle.
Additionally, the pandemic disrupted traditional work-home boundaries, forcing families to adapt to an always-on culture. With remote work normalizing the expectation of 24/7 availability, the division between professional and personal life is increasingly difficult to maintain. Employee satisfaction has suffered – Gallup reports that the percentage of employees who feel they are “thriving” at work has dropped by 60% in 2019 to 50% in 2024.
Women feel this strain acutely. Despite carrying the bulk of household and caregiving duties, they are also expected to meet the same professional standards as their male counterparts. Yet only 26% of women believe their organizations genuinely care about their well-being. The lack of support is pushing women to make difficult choices -often at the expense of their careers.
Beyond managing their children’s needs, women also take on the responsibility of caring for aging parents. As life expectancy rises, the responsibility of elder care falls disproportionately on daughters, who dedicate twice as much time per month as their male siblings. Women make up 61% of caregivers, further compounding their already immense responsibilities.
Women need systemic support in the world of the Juggle Economy™ – in the workplace, at home, and with our healthcare. Whether through accessible childcare, employer-backed flexibility, or better healthcare resources, it is time to acknowledge the weight women are carrying and provide tactical solutions.
Without support, the balls will start dropping. It’s not about whether women can do it all – it’s about creating a “virtual village” to help with the juggle.