unpaid labor
Work without wages
Unpaid labor is work performed without monetary compensation.
The term often carries political weight, highlighting contributions that go unrecognized by markets: Unpaid labor in the home subsidizes the formal economy.
It encompasses domestic work, caregiving, internships, and volunteer service.
The phrase draws attention to who benefits from work that isn't paid for.
- eldercareSupport for the aged
- women's workTasks historically assigned females
- serfdomFeudal bound labor
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- community serviceUnpaid labor benefiting society
slavery · childcare · housework · subsistence farming · human trafficking · debt bondage · second shift · family obligations · volunteering · internship · peonage · shadow work · parenting · stay at home mom · cleaning · mentoring · sweat equity · chores
- feminismfeminism, feminist theory, gender equality, women's rights, feminist novels
- exploitationexploit, predatory, sex trafficking, take advantage, human trafficking
- gender equitygender equality, gender equity, equal rights, gender gap, pay equity
- invisible labormental load, housework, caregiving, domestic chores, housekeeping
- unpaid workvolunteer, charity work, pro bono
- unreasonable demandsimpossible task, weekend work, rush job, scope creep, moving goalposts
unpaid laborvoluntary work
Unpaid charitable labor
volunteer labor · charitable work · pro bono work · leisure activity · hobby