In Kyrgyzstan, many women face the necessity of managing both their careers and household responsibilities simultaneously. For them, the phrase "the 25th hour in the day" becomes a real challenge rather than just a beautiful expression. As a result, personal time often turns into an unattainable dream.
According to data from the National Statistics Committee, women on average dedicate 4 hours and 40 minutes a day to household chores, which accounts for almost 19% of their lives. In contrast, men spend only 55 minutes on these same tasks (five times less). This imbalance is particularly noticeable in rural areas, where women spend about 5 hours a day on household chores, while urban women spend approximately 4 hours. The differences are conditioned not only by cultural factors but also by the physical labor, which is more demanding in the countryside.
After the workday ends, men enter their leisure time, while women face the burden of a "second shift." Let's take a look at what a typical day looks like for a working woman in Bishkek:
Work: 8 hours (according to the official schedule).
Commute: 2 hours (including traffic and waiting for transport).
Household chores: 5 hours (cleaning, laundry, cooking, helping children with homework).
Basic needs: 1 hour (personal hygiene and meals).
Sleep: 8 hours (at best, although this is not always achievable).
For active rest, hobbies, or sports, women in Kyrgyzstan have only 2 hours and 20 minutes per week, which is equivalent to 20 minutes a day. In such a regime, it is difficult to recover energy, visit the gym, or simply enjoy silence. As a result, accumulated fatigue turns into chronic fatigue, and time for oneself is pushed out by an endless list of household chores.
