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Who cooks at home? Who thinks of what goes into a child's lunchbox? How long with only women continue to be responsible for these everyday, never-ending tasks?
Who cooks at home? Who thinks of what goes into a child’s lunchbox? How long with only women continue to be responsible for these everyday, never-ending tasks?
Everyday morning after I get up, the first thing I think about is what food I should cook for my son and husband. I have to make two breakfasts, two lunches, one snack and also prepare for dinner. The coffee needs to be made as well. There has to be water in the filter. The dog and the fish need to be fed. I am running and scrambling at 4:30am to make all these things in one hour.
If I am lucky, I get a sip of coffee. At 5:45am, my son needs to be woken up. He is all cranky and says he does not like school and complains of how his teacher makes him write, and how his legs are paining. I somehow drag him into the bathroom and get him ready. Then breakfast is another struggle as he eats even more slowly in the morning. Then he has to wear his tie, his clothes, shoes, socks and carry his bag to school. At 6:25am he leaves for school.
Then I quickly sweep the floor, eat my breakfast and take a bath and get ready. I like to wear accessories and dress up for work so that takes time. But at 6:50am I have to take the taxi or else I will get late for work. So this is my daily morning schedule.
Now, I am a married woman. I have been married for 10 years. My son is 8 years old now. My husband’s geyser needs to be switched on at 4:30am and at 5 am he gets up and spends 30 minutes in the bathroom. Then he drinks his coffee. He waters the plants which he loves so much and takes the dog for a quick walk. At 6:25am he also leaves with my son.
The difference is that while I am running and rushing around, my husband slowly does his work. Does he ever wonder what my son will eat for breakfast or whether his bottle has water? Why is it that my husband is sitting and sipping coffee; while I am running around to get work done?
Most husbands never ever worry about the kitchen. Why, I ask? Why is it that a woman has to think about what her family has to be fed? Why can’t the husband ever think about it? I am also working, like my husband. Then why does the kitchen work fall on me? Why can’t my husband, once, instead of going to take a bath, step inside the kitchen and make food for the family? Is that not an important job? Or is that a job only for the woman?
I just feel exasperated at times. On some days I too want time to relax and drink coffee while sitting instead of taking a sip between my tasks. I don’t want to enter the kitchen every morning. One day I would like someone else to make the coffee for me.
Image of Vidya Balan in Tumhari Sulu
I love to write on women's issues. I strongly believe that every woman is capable of being more than just a homemaker. They are the leaders of our world. They can multi-task more read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Menopause is a reality in women's lives, so Indian workplaces need to gear up and address women's menopausal needs.
Picture this: A seasoned executive at the peak of her career suddenly grapples with hot flashes and sleep disturbances during important meetings. She also battles mood swings and cognitive changes, affecting her productivity and confidence. Eventually, she resigns from her job.
Fiction? Not really. The scenario above is a reality many women face as they navigate menopause while meeting their work responsibilities.
Menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. This natural condition marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. The transition brings unique physical, emotional, and psychological changes for women.
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