Pick up any newspaper. Click on any TV channel. Everywhere you find tales of Indian women having come along way; of their condition improving all the time. Well this is true to a certain extent.But I, having lived in the 'hinterland' of Hindustan, know that this is only part of the story of Indian women.
The biggest reason women have to live an 'inferior' life compared to men is the common perception that it is the man in the house who goes out into the big bad world and brings home the daily bread. I wonder how this misconception began.
I mean there is no such any rule in the animal kingdom. Humans are animals too.Take an example. Discovery Channel tell us that in lions it is the lioness that does the hunting. She brings the catch to her horde and everybody has a feast, hubby included. We have never seen in a National Geographic documentary that the lioness waves her paw to her 'husband' when the lion goes out to hunt.
Then why this tradition amongst humans? This stereotyping has been the biggest oppressor of women.
In houses where the lady goes to work, she is supposed to cook breakfast for herself and the family. Before leaving for work she is the one who drops the kids to school. Why can't the husband do these chores?
In the evening, while the wife is busy cooking dinner, the hubby relaxes on the sofa and watches TV. I have seen this (everyone must have) even in 'modern' cities like Mumbai. My neighbours when I lived in Malad were a working couple, both bankers in a top industrial finance company. But the wife used to do the cooking. Why?
Anyway, we will talk more about it later.
Image credit
The biggest reason women have to live an 'inferior' life compared to men is the common perception that it is the man in the house who goes out into the big bad world and brings home the daily bread. I wonder how this misconception began.
I mean there is no such any rule in the animal kingdom. Humans are animals too.Take an example. Discovery Channel tell us that in lions it is the lioness that does the hunting. She brings the catch to her horde and everybody has a feast, hubby included. We have never seen in a National Geographic documentary that the lioness waves her paw to her 'husband' when the lion goes out to hunt.
Then why this tradition amongst humans? This stereotyping has been the biggest oppressor of women.
In houses where the lady goes to work, she is supposed to cook breakfast for herself and the family. Before leaving for work she is the one who drops the kids to school. Why can't the husband do these chores?
In the evening, while the wife is busy cooking dinner, the hubby relaxes on the sofa and watches TV. I have seen this (everyone must have) even in 'modern' cities like Mumbai. My neighbours when I lived in Malad were a working couple, both bankers in a top industrial finance company. But the wife used to do the cooking. Why?
Anyway, we will talk more about it later.
Image credit
