unequal responsibility

[/ˌʌnˈiːkwəl rɪˈspɒnsəbɪlɪti/]
noun phrasepl: unequal responsibilities
responsabilidade desigual
1. A situation where different parties or individuals bear different levels of accountability or duty for a task, outcome, or obligation, often unfairly distributed
The unequal responsibility in the project left one team member doing most of the work while others contributed minimally.
A responsabilidade desigual no projeto deixou um membro da equipe fazendo a maior parte do trabalho enquanto os outros contribuíam minimamente.
2. In legal or organizational contexts, an imbalanced allocation of duties or liabilities among parties
The contract resulted in unequal responsibility, placing all financial risk on the smaller company.
O contrato resultou em responsabilidade desigual, colocando todo o risco financeiro na empresa menor.
This term is frequently used in Brazilian workplace discussions, labor disputes, and organizational management contexts. In the USA, it's common in legal documents, employment agreements, and discussions about fairness in work distribution. The concept reflects broader concerns about equity and justice in both cultures, with particular relevance in discussions about gender roles and workplace equality.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
uneven responsibilitydisproportionate accountabilityimbalanced dutyunequal burdendisparate obligation
Antonyms / Antônimos
equal responsibilityshared responsibilitybalanced accountabilityequitable dutyfair distribution of responsibility

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
responsabilidade desigual
Standard translation used across Brazil in formal and informal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
responsabilidade desigual / responsabilidade desequilibrada
Both forms are commonly used; may also say 'carga desigual' (unequal burden)
São Paulo
responsabilidade desigual
Frequently used in business and corporate contexts
Portugal
responsabilidade desigual / responsabilidade desproporcional
Both terms are accepted; 'desproporcional' is slightly more formal

Related Words

accountabilityburdenliabilitydutyobligationfairnessequity

Related Idioms & Phrases

carry the weight
bear the burden
shoulder the responsibility
uneven playing field
fall on someone's shoulders
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →