My favourite childhood memories are of festivals and family functions. That’s because I remember our whole family used to come together and plan lunch on those occasions. Those were good times when we used to meet and spend time with each other again.
But in the midst of all this, where we children used to play with each other and papa and uncle used to talk about news and politics, my mother and aunts used to work in the kitchen every time.
Because I used to see this happening every time, I used to think that maybe this happens. I see the same pattern in my house and nearby homes.
It’s Not A Woman’s Job
Is doing work in the kitchen only a woman’s job? Is taking care of all the household work only the woman’s responsibility?
I have a working mother and have seen how much she has been worried about household chores over the years. And you know what the saddest part is? That these things are reflected in today’s young generation too.
I was born in Allahabad, and while working at Medha, I got the opportunity to interact with many young women in UP. Most of them aspire to become teachers not because they love the profession but because they think they will be able to manage the home properly.
I later learned that there is a name for this, viz Unpaid Care Work, and the problem exists predominantly because of the patriarchal norms in the society.
Let me share a story about a woman I recently met in Lucknow. She was in her late 30s and was working as a daily wage worker. She works for around 10–12 hours at the site and then 5–6 hours for household work.
She mentioned, “Whenever I leave my housework incomplete, I feel so much guilt, which adds much stress to my work.”
“I would prefer to just sleep without any tension,” she said laughingly when I asked her what she would do if she had free time.
Indian Women In The Household
Indian women spend up to 6 hours daily on domestic work, which is a whopping 577% more than men. Their unpaid work contributes to sustaining economic activity, equivalent to 3.1% of our GDP, but it is hardly recognised in our society.
The disproportionate distribution of unpaid care work among women often leads to stress and other mental health issues. The expectation that it’s still the women who must do it is the root of all the problems, and placing education and awareness about skewed gender attributes, we can tackle unequal labour division.
As young adults, it is our responsibility to educate our families and our neighbourhood about breaking this preconceived notion and promoting equality by ensuring opportunity for all. I want each of us who is reading this to please go to every woman in your home and tell them, “It’s not your job!”