"Family, care, fairness - ways to achieve more balance in everyday life": information evening in Bestwig
"Family, care, fairness - ways to achieve more balance in everyday life" is the title of a specialist lecture in which speaker Anne Scharfenstein will take a look at how burdens can be distributed more fairly.
Those who look after the family literally have to keep "a thousand things in their head at once". There is a technical term for this: "mental load" refers to the invisible mental work involved in planning and organising everyday (family) life. It is also the focus of a specialist lecture organised by Elena Beule, Equal Opportunities Officer for the municipality of Bestwig.
"Family, care, fairness - ways to achieve more balance in everyday life" is the title of the event, which will focus not only on "mental load" but also on "care work", i.e. "taking care of others". Anyone who takes on "care work" always has their head full of tasks: Who makes sure the nappy supply doesn't run out? Who thinks about the next parents' evening and the birthday present for the mother-in-law? Who makes sure that the fridge is always full and who makes sure that relatives in need of care can attend the necessary medical appointments?
It's a whole host of small tasks, but together they can lead to an overload in everyday life - in other words, to "mental load". Often it is still women who carry the majority of this burden - even if they are employed - and often receive little appreciation for it.
In an informative and practical keynote speech, Anne Scharfenstein, a certified systemic coach, will shed light on what exactly is behind the term, how "mental load" arises and where participants can start in order to distribute such burdens more fairly in everyday life.
The lecture will be held on Thursday, 22 May at 6 p.m. in the Bürgersaal of the Bestwiger Bürger- und Rathaus, followed by a space for exchange, questions and discussion. It is aimed at anyone who is interested in the topics of compatibility, equal rights and the "fair" distribution of "mental load" and "care work" and who would like to receive ideas on how to achieve a fairer distribution.
Participation in the specialist lecture is free of charge; however, for organisational reasons, registration is required by 16 May at the latest by contacting Elena Beule (Tel. 02904/987-102 or email elena.beule@bestwig.de).