The Crushing Weight of Women’s Labor
How we're easing our load this summer
In this candid conversation, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke kick off their summer series exploring women’s labor—visible, invisible, paid, unpaid, emotional, and generational.
They dive into what’s been stirring beneath the surface: the overwhelm of trying to do it all, the cultural myths of "having it all," and the shame and guilt baked into simply needing rest.
They name the collective weight women carry and offer an alternative path rooted in pleasure, community, and ease.
This episode kicks off a looser, more spacious summer format—one that resists perfectionism and honors capacity. Expect solo musings, guest conversations, and whatever else feels good, all orbiting the theme of labor and liberation.
Discussed in this episode:
Why emotional labor is real—and disproportionately carried by women
How systems reinforce impossible expectations, especially for mothers
Faith’s reflection on being “the Black woman holding up the Earth”
Becky’s struggle with summer parenting vs productivity
The guilt/shame spiral of rest and how to rebel against it
Why letting systems break is sometimes the most powerful choice
How joy, rest, and pleasure are radical strategies for change
What to expect in this summer series shift
Yours in solidarity,
Becky & Faith
PS: We’re proud members of the Feminist Podcast Collective