Laziness Does Not Exist

Chapter 6 explores the theme of relationships and how they can become exhausting due to imbalanced expectations and responsibilities. Price argues that the Laziness Lie has distorted people’s sense of boundaries, leading them to take on excessive burdens in their personal and professional lives.

Price begins with the story of Grace, who struggles with her demanding mother, Sylvia. Sylvia systematically undermines Grace’s accomplishments. She also engages in manipulative tactics, such as sending unsolicited gifts and then demanding immediate gratitude, creating a cycle of obligation and guilt. Sylvia frequently seeks validation from Grace, pressuring her daughter to affirm her as a good mother. This dynamic forces Grace into a caretaker role for her own parent’s emotional needs. Through this detailed portrayal, Price demonstrates how such relationships can become a constant source of stress and emotional exhaustion. He describes Grace as being “emotionally vampirized” by her mother, metaphorically conveying how individuals like Sylvia can deplete the emotional resources of those around them, leaving their loved ones feeling drained and unfulfilled. This characterization provides a concrete example for the chapter’s broader exploration of boundary-setting and self-care in the face of demanding relationships.

Price then explores the concept of the “second shift”—how women often bear the brunt of household chores and emotional labor in relationships and workplaces.