Women has to balance home&office - called "double burden"!
More women are working in indian cities these days. But still, most of the household chores, such as cooking, cleaning, taking care of children and serving elders, have to be done by women. Society also considers household chores as "women's work". This puts a lot of burden on women. Stress increases in their lives, they are able to go out less and promotion in the job also becomes difficult. This problem is due to old thinking and dominance of men. The situation is better in some places, especially in Northeast India, but a lot will have to change for equality in the whole country.
Women in cities spend the most time in household chores. According to a study (2019 Time Use Survey), "Almost half of the urban women do not go out of the house even once a day." This is because they spend the whole day cooking, cleaning and taking care of children. But very few men do this. The study says that "more than 52% of women spend more than 5 hours a day doing housework," while only 1.5% of men do so.
Even women who work have to do most of the housework. Deloitte's "Women@Work" report says that only 15% of working women have a partner who shares the work equally with them. The remaining 85% women shoulder the entire burden of the house along with their job." This leaves women with very little time. They get tired and cannot focus on their career. Many women have to quit their jobs because they cannot handle both responsibilities.
Mintel's research shows that 60% Indian men want to help in household chores so that the burden on their wife or family is reduced. This is a good thing. But they are not able to do so. There are many reasons for this:
-Don't know how to do the work: 32% men find household chores difficult and 34% are afraid to use cleaning products. Almost half of the men (49%) want someone to teach them easier ways.
-Understand women's work: 41% young men (25-31 years) believe that household products are made for women. Most of the advertisements also show women.
-Societal thinking: people believe that household work is women's. If men do it, it is considered "help". There is a difference, not equality.
-Problem of job: If men take leave for household work, people in the office make fun of them. That is why men are left behind even if they want to.
Due to household work, women are able to go out less. A study says that "70% of women who neither work nor study, do not go out even once a day." Due to this they are left alone and lose opportunities. women who work also face problems. They work all day, and then work at home as well. This increases their stress.
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