Frayed

'Frayed' explores the modern-day imbalances of domestic labor between men and women in heterosexual relationships. 

“Today I

swept, mopped, wept, cooked, cried,

mothered, tried to mother myself, tended to the animals, tended to him.

I was tired

I asked him for a break.

Two hours to myself, without the baby

I plead.

But he can’t you see, because

he worked all day.

I am frayed.

Today I

swept, mopped, wept, cooked, cried,

mothered, tried to mother myself, tended to the animals, tended to him.

I was tired

I asked him for a break.

Two hours to myself, without the baby

I plead.

But he can’t you see, because

he worked all day.

I am frayed.

Today I

swept, mopped, wept, cooked, cried,

mothered, tried to mother myself, tended to the animals, tended to him.

I was tired

I asked him for a break.

Two hours to myself, without the baby

I plead.

But he can’t you see, because

he worked all day.

I am frayed.”

Kate Ward

This piece is inspired by the domestic, emotional, mental, and parenting imbalances that are

"Engaging in more unpaid labor and less leisure time leaves women feeling absolutely frayed."

still so rampant in heterosexual relationships. Thanks to TikTok and other social media platforms, women are speaking out more and more about their experiences….and realizing that they are not alone.

Regardless of how many hours they work outside of the home, women are still doing the bulk of the “invisible” labor.

This is a form of oppression…plain and simple.

Tight and even wefts at the bottom slowly lead into more uneven and chaotic wefts...an analogy for way labor imbalances tend to slowly sneak up in a relationship. 

This weaving starts out with a strong foundation of tight and even wefts, but slowly becomes more chaotic and uneven. I believe this is a good metaphor for how these relationships often go. Things are fine in the beginning…good even. But it becomes evident over time that their partners value their own health, career, and leisure time over theirs. This leaves women exhausted, frayed, and resentful.

It is woven with prayers and intentions for women to have the resources and power to step away from these harmful relationships, and for men to become more conscious and aware of the way in which these dynamics are harmful and oppressive.

This weaving is available for sale in my shop…it can be purchased here.