Everybody knows what labor is. It’s the activity performed by an individual in return for a paycheck. But what about all those other activities that are done that also benefit some or many people?
I asked Chat to list all the terms out there for unpaid work done in homes and communities. And here is what I got.
1. The Home
Unpaid labor focused on household maintenance, caregiving, and family life:
- Household Production
- Domestic Work
- Unpaid Domestic Labor
- Reproductive Labor
- Invisible Labor
- Social Reproduction
- Home Production
- Unpaid Household Services
- Homemaking
- Housekeeping
- Child-Rearing
- Elder Care
- Family Caregiving
- Emotional Labor (within the household)
- Caregiving
- Informal Care
- Unpaid Childcare
- Parental Care
- Kin Care
2. The Office or Other Professional Settings
Unpaid or voluntary labor in organizational, administrative, or professional contexts:
- Pro Bono Work
- Volunteer Work (for professional organizations)
- Advocacy Work (unpaid)
- Mentorship (unpaid)
- Internship (unpaid)
- Apprenticeship (unpaid)
- Emotional Labor (in workplace or professional settings)
3. The Church or Other Places of Worship
Unpaid labor related to spiritual, communal, or faith-based activities:
- Charitable Work
- Community Service
- Faith-Based Caregiving
- Volunteer Work (religious organizations)
- Advocacy Work (faith-driven)
- Grassroots Organizing
- Altruistic Work
4. The Community Center or Public Spaces
Unpaid labor supporting community well-being and public engagement:
- Mutual Aid
- Neighborly Assistance
- Community-Based Care
- Volunteer Work
- Charitable Work
- Grassroots Organizing
- Community Service
- Non-Market Work
- Social Support Work
- Advocacy Work (public or civic)
5. Schools or Educational Settings
Unpaid labor supporting education, learning, and mentoring:
- Unpaid Tutoring
- Mentorship (unpaid)
- Parent-Teacher Association Work
- Volunteer Work (schools)
- Advocacy for Education
6. Medical and Health-Related Facilities
Unpaid labor related to caregiving and health support:
- Elder Care
- Family Caregiving
- Informal Care
- Unpaid Childcare
- Caregiving (medical settings)
- Volunteer Work (hospitals and clinics)
7. Farms, Rural Settings, or Outdoor Spaces
Unpaid labor connected to food production or outdoor community support:
- Subsistence Work
- Self-Provisioning
- Reciprocal Labor
- Communal Work
- Obligatory Labor (culturally expected in rural communities)
8. Government or Civic Buildings
Unpaid labor focused on governance, policy, and public service:
- Advocacy Work (political or civic)
- Volunteer Work (government programs)
- Grassroots Organizing
- Community Service
9. Museums, Theaters, and Cultural Institutions
Unpaid labor supporting arts, culture, and historical preservation:
- Volunteer Work (cultural organizations)
- Passion Work (for the arts)
- Charitable Work (for cultural causes)
This categorization demonstrates how unpaid work is intricately woven into all aspects of society, emphasizing its importance across diverse settings. (end Chat)
Although a lengthy list, I think Chat missed a few.
A notable one is the hours tinkerers spend trying to develop new products and technologies. Did the Wright Brothers get paid for their first flight?
Home Economics 