Exploring mental labour among dual-earner couples in South Africa

De Waal, Michaela

Exploring mental labour among dual-earner couples in South Africa

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Organisational Psychology

Faculty

Faculty of Commerce

Abstract

Mental labour, an often invisible but essential aspect of unpaid care work, remains disproportionately carried by women in dual-earning heterosexual households. In South Africa, where unpaid care is a major contributor to gender inequality, this form of work has received limited focused study. Mental labour refers to the cognitive, managerial, and anticipatory responsibilities involved in running a household, and its distribution reflects broader gendered expectations. This study examines how gender norms shape the experience and allocation of mental labour among four South African couples. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with each partner to explore how daily household responsibilities are organised, negotiated, and justified. A gender constructionist framework, particularly the concept of “doing gender,” was used to analyse the data, allowing attention to the ways in which practices of care are reproduced through everyday interactions. Findings show that while men may share physical household tasks, women overwhelmingly remain responsible for mental labour. This includes anticipating needs, monitoring emotional well-being, and coordinating domestic routines. Tools such as shared calendars, messaging apps, and assistance from extended family provide some relief, yet they rarely challenge underlying assumptions that women are ultimately accountable for household management. Instead, these strategies often reproduce traditional gender roles by presenting men's contributions as optional or secondary. By situating these dynamics within the South African context, the study underscores the persistence of gendered inequalities in unpaid care work. It also points to the need for both cultural change and policy interventions, such as workplace flexibility and parental leave, to encourage a more equitable distribution of responsibilities. In highlighting mental labour as a key dimension of gendered inequality, this research contributes to ongoing debates about care, equity, and social transformation.