Reproductive labor, social vulnerability, and female aging: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Reproductive labor, historically performed by women, often occurs under conditions of social vulnerability and lacks formal recognition.
• Domestic work by women is frequently situated in contexts of devaluation and cumulative chronic stress, leading to health disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the international scientific literature on paid and unpaid domestic work.
• To examine domestic work performed by adult and older women in contexts of devaluation and chronic stress.
• To understand the health impacts of domestic work on marginalized populations.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR and JBI guidelines.
• Searched PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science databases.
• Included 41 studies after screening 2,122 records.

Main Results:

• Domestic work reproduces gender, class, and racial inequalities, particularly for migrant women.
• Studies were concentrated in China, Singapore, and the United States, primarily using qualitative or mixed methods.
• High prevalence of psychological distress, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and violence was observed, exacerbated by informality and lack of legal protection.

Conclusions:

• Domestic work is a complex phenomenon with significant social, relational, and neurobiological implications.
• Working conditions in domestic labor negatively impact the health of marginalized populations.
• Urgent need for public policies integrating social protection, economic recognition, and healthcare for domestic workers.