“Ladies, something is changing in the world. Men are taking an interest in cooking, and not just in restaurants where they get paid. In the home, too. Men are trying to get paternity leave to look after children, and some are even doing their own ironing. If we are to keep building our self-esteem on being super-mummies and overworked martyrs, then we need to fight back.”
What’s it about?
‘She works hard for (no) money’ is a comic exploration of the invisible labour that fuels our planet – the mental load that women bear, and the emotional labour they undertake for others in their lives. Told through a variety of scenes that mimic advertisements, job interviews, and talk shows, the play attempts to draw parallels between this invisible labour market and the real, paid and respected one.
Production History
‘She works hard for (no) money’ was written in 2018, and underwent development through Small and Loud at the Arts Centre, Melbourne, in 2019. It is currently being redrafted.
An Excerpt
WOMAN 2: My husband’s worse! He said he wanted to wash some of his clothes – himself –
OTHER WOMEN: Oooh, risky!
WOMAN 1: I wouldn’t even let my husband anywhere near the laundry – he’d probably draw on the walls or something!
WOMAN 2: See, that’s the thing – I let him wash his own clothes, and you know what he did? He put them in the dishwasher!
The women all laugh.
WOMAN 3: Typical man.
WOMAN 2: Yup. Turns out he can’t tell them apart!
WOMAN 3: Speaking of – my husband can’t tell the difference between lemon cordial and Domestos!
The women all laugh.
WOMAN 3: He tried to make Lacey a drink –
WOMAN 2: There’s your first mistake!
WOMAN 3: I know! Usually I wouldn’t let him make drinks by himself, especially if I’m not supervising, but I figured Lacey was there.
WOMAN 1: She’s a good girl.
WOMAN 3: I figured if he didn’t know how to open the fridge or how to pour, she’d help him out. So anyway, he can’t find the lemon cordial, and just pours out some Domestos instead!
The women all laugh.
WOMAN 3: She vomited blood all night and had to get her stomach pumped. I’m like – no more Daddy Day Care, am I right?!
The women all laugh.
Samantha Hill 