a look beyond the averages shows the reality of the employed population with a double working shift consisting of two types of work paid and unpaid in all countries women have a heavier total workload and while they are overrepresented in the unpaid work category they are underrepresented in the paid work category the overburden of unpaid work lessens womens participation in decisionmaking and progress in their professional careers and employment opportunities which in turn reduces their income and prospects for access to social security which is still directly linked to formal wage employment