The Weight of the Holiday Table: Why Women Feel the Most Pressure During Thanksgiving

For many, Thanksgiving conjures images of gratitude, abundance, and gathering around a perfectly set table. But for countless women — especially mothers, daughters, wives, and caretakers — it also brings an invisible guest: pressure.

Whether it’s the cooking, the hosting, the emotional labor, or managing the expectations of family dynamics, women often carry the weight of the holiday — quietly, and overwhelmingly.

The Unseen Work of Thanksgiving

Behind the golden turkey and curated centerpiece lies hours of planning, prepping, grocery runs, calendar coordination, and emotional refereeing. Most of that work? Falls on women.

According to recent surveys:

• 76% of holiday meal prep is done by women

• Women are twice as likely to manage emotional needs of family during holidays

• Many feel that Thanksgiving is “more work than joy”

And yet, it’s rarely acknowledged.

Emotional Labor and Expectations

Thanksgiving doesn’t just involve physical labor — it’s emotional labor, too:

• Keeping peace at the dinner table

• Making sure guests feel seen and heard

• Putting personal needs aside to “keep tradition alive”

• Smiling through exhaustion because “this is what moms/women do”

And while women may love their role in creating family memories, that love doesn’t erase the burnout.

The Need for Change (and Boundaries)

This year, more women are embracing a new kind of Thanksgiving — one rooted in shared effort, self-care, and honesty.

✅ Delegating tasks

✅ Saying “no” without guilt

✅ Opting for potlucks over perfection

✅ Taking breaks when needed

✅ Focusing on connection over performance

Because gratitude shouldn’t come at the cost of exhaustion.

Gratitude Includes You

To every woman reading this — you don’t need to do it all to be appreciated.

Your value doesn’t lie in the number of dishes on the table or how smooth the day goes. It lies in your presence, your love, and your ability to be human, not superhuman.

This Thanksgiving, give thanks — but also give yourself a break.