Sandwich Generation Caregiving with Anna De La Cruz

What happens when you’re raising young children and caring for aging parents—or even siblings with disabilities—at the same time? That’s the reality for millions of Gen Xers and millennials in the “sandwich generation.”

In this episode of Feminist Founders, part of our summer series on invisible labor, Becky talks with Anna De La Cruz, a social impact consultant, writer, and caregiver based in Seattle. Anna is the voice behind GenXandwich on Substack, where she writes candidly about navigating multi-generational caregiving while raising three kids and caring for her brother with Down syndrome.

Discussed in this episode:

• What it means to be “sandwiched” between kids, parents, and other loved ones who need care.
• Why women—especially women of color—carry the bulk of unpaid and underpaid care work, and how sexism and pay disparities reinforce that reality.
• How capitalism has failed caregivers, creating a system where care is unaffordable for families but still undervalued and underpaid for workers.
• The emotional toll of invisible labor, from guilt to burnout, and how naming it helps us fight for systemic change.
• The importance of collective care, community, and policy solutions—not just “self-care”—to support caregivers.
• Reimagining how we talk about death and aging as part of creating healthier, more honest conversations about caregiving.

Anna reminds us that making invisible labor visible isn’t just about validation—it’s about shifting culture and demanding policies that actually support people.

🎉 Read Anna’s writing at GenXandwich on Substack: https://substack.com/@genxandwich

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