In the realm of parenting, a viral comic by French artist Clara has struck a chord with many women, shedding light on the often-unseen “mental load” that comes with managing a household. Titled “You Should’ve Asked,” this comic has gained widespread attention as countless women see their own experiences reflected in its illustrations.
The comic opens with a relatable scene of new parents inviting a friend for dinner. While the mom juggles feeding the baby, prepping the meal, and handling various tasks, the dad is seen relaxing with their guest. Sound familiar?
Many women may hesitate to voice these feelings, fearing they’ll reinforce stereotypes about fathers being unhelpful at home. While partners do contribute—helping with the kids and household chores—the weight of the mental load often falls disproportionately on women.
Consider your own home. Recall the last time your child was unwell—who stayed up all night tending to them? Now think about the last time your refrigerator was stocked. Who ensured insurance paperwork was completed? Who remembered to order new school supplies or noted that you were low on milk? It can be overwhelming.
Women frequently carry an ever-growing mental checklist of tasks, and when they try to delegate, partners might only tackle what they’re specifically asked to do, leaving much of the burden still on their shoulders. It’s exhausting to feel like you’re running a marathon of chores and never reaching the finish line. This leads to the mentality of “I’ll just handle it myself,” which only breeds fatigue and resentment.
The mental load doesn’t just affect new parents; it grows with each life stage, especially when women return to work. They become the “project managers” of their families, while still doing the bulk of the labor. As Clara points out, “Women still dedicate 25 times more hours to chores than men.” For true change to happen, it’s essential that men recognize their role in sharing household responsibilities.
You can check out the entire insightful comic here. It’s clear that Clara has tapped into the collective consciousness of many mothers and articulated their everyday struggles perfectly.
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In summary, the comic by Clara captures the nuanced and often invisible burden of the mental load in motherhood, resonating with many women who find themselves navigating these daily challenges.