Non-electric washing machine chalks up big win for low-tech ingenuity
Over much of the planet, women tend to do more unpaid domestic work than men do – much more. A 2025 Centre for Global Development study reported that across 50 countries, “women spend an average of 29.92 hours weekly on domestic work as a primary activity, while men spend only 9.78.”
While some men might shrug and say, “Division of labor!”, few men opt for such unpaid labor themselves.
That’s because of the massive opportunity cost such dollarless drudgery inflicts. Reduced or zero income means reduced or zero pension security, educational opportunity (including for daughters who generally must assist domestic labor), relocation freedom (to escape poverty, discrimination, violence, or other threats), leisure and personal development time, and general quality of life.
While few social problems can be solved through technology alone, some tools – especially if they’re dependable, easy to repair, available, and inexpensive – can certainly help reduce drudgery,...
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