Even in the 21st century, it is heartbreaking how many of us are treated second to our brothers or husbands. Even after being well educated and well-earning, we struggle to find equality. What is even more disappointing is the fact that this happens in our own house.
In the quest to raise sincere daughters, it is an ugly truth that our society raises spoilt sons.
It is our regressive thought process that stops even educated parents to practice equality at home. By default, women are made the guardians of household chores. So when mothers are busy, the responsibility of chopping vegetables, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes or dishes, falls on the daughters of the house. And the parents believe they are doing the right thing. Because in the end, the girl would become the ‘daughter-in-law’ at someone’s house in the future.
To ensure our daughters are well settled after marriage in a new home, we focus so much on her that we forget to make our sons learn the most important lesson of equality.
By only making our daughters responsible for learning household chores, we make our son believe it is only a woman’s responsibility to cook, clean, wash clothes, or dishes. It is the daughter’s duty to help mothers in serving food to the family.
Like many Indian daughters, it feels cruel to lead a life that is based on unfairness and inequality. It pains my heart wondering how our own parents, who teach us how to be strong and independent, teach us differently based on our gender.
Dear Parents, in your quest to raise perfect daughters, you have concentrated your focus only on women. How to educate them, how to make them independent, how to raise them with good values, how to make sure they can take care of their husband and kids.
In the midst of raising a sincere and perfect daughter, have you forgotten to focus on your sons?
What about teaching our sons that household chores are not about genders?
What about teaching them that man of the house not only do office work but also cook in the kitchen?
What about teaching our sons to clean and arrange their own wardrobe as we teach our daughters?
What about teaching them how to do laundry and cook rather than just expecting clean clothes and hot food served to them?
What about teaching them there is no shame in doing household chores? It doesn’t make them any less of a man. Rather it shows how responsible and progressive they are.
Dear Society, It’s Time To Change
If you raise a son who does not know how to fold his own clothes, cook meals, and help around the house, you are one of those who are creating an unfair world for women. It is heartbreaking how even after being equally qualified and financially sound, women have to bear all the burden of household chores.
As a parent, if we want to be part of building an equal and fair society, then we can’t raise just sincere daughters and spoilt sons. For every daughter taught that she can be more than just a housekeeper and cook, there is a son who should be taught that cooking, cleaning, laundry are not just women’s responsibility.