Back to School: Women, Men, and the Dance of Unspoken Duties

In the symphony of back-to-school hustle, moms often play every instrument, sometimes all at once.

- Tania Ibarra

‍

Ah, the back-to-school season. It's like nature’s alarm clock, signaling that it's time to trade in beach towels for book bags. But while we get caught up in the frenzy, have we ever paused to recognize the gender dynamics at play? Let's look at back-to-school through the lens of Recognize, Own, and Disrupt.

Recognize: Spotting the Unspoken Duties

Ever notice who's often in the aisle comparing color pencils or navigating the school website to find the supplies list? A not-so-quiet observation suggests it's usually the women. (Now, this doesn’t even take into account household of different composition or single mothers who make up more than 23% of all U.S. households!)

• Shopping Extravaganza: While dads contribute in myriad ways, it's often the moms deciphering the school supply lists, traipsing through store after store.
• The Hair Marathon: From scheduling to sitting through hair appointments, moms usually lead the charge.
• Health Checks: Vaccinations, dental checks, eye exams – the health dance, and guess who’s usually choreographing?
• Homework Helpline: When it comes to academic queries, it's not Google kids turn to; it's their personal "Momgle."

Own: Embracing and Understanding the Why

It’s not about finger-pointing but reflecting. Why do these patterns emerge? Societal norms? Deep-rooted beliefs? Often, these roles aren't chosen but inherited, stemming from how we've seen our parents and grandparents manage.

• Cultural Scripts: Sometimes, it's just about following the age-old script of "This is how it’s always been done."
• Expectations: The community, school groups, or even ourselves can unknowingly perpetuate these roles.

Disrupt: Shaking Things Up a Bit

To evolve, sometimes we need a gentle nudge (or a fun shake-up) of the status quo.

1. Involve & Delegate: Gather the family, lay out tasks, and delegate. Maybe dad's got a secret flair for picking out the trendiest school gear!

2. Tech-Savvy Solutions: Online shopping can be a shared activity. Create a shared list and divide and accomplish.

3. Shift & Share Responsibilities: Let’s redefine roles. Maybe dads can take over the health checks, or moms can step back from the homework helpline once a week.

4. Open Dialogue: Talk to your partner about sharing duties. Sometimes, just recognizing and discussing is half the battle won.
5. Empower the Kids: They're more capable than we think. Assign them responsibilities, from managing their supplies to tracking their appointments.

In Conclusion: A Dance, Not a Race

Back-to-school doesn’t have to be a race with gendered lanes. Instead, let’s make it a dance where everyone gets a turn in the spotlight. At Step Up, we believe that by recognizing, owning, and disrupting patterns, we open doors to richer, shared experiences. So, this school season, let’s twirl, shake, and jive together. Cheers to shared duties and even more shared memories!

‍