♠️GENDER STEREOTYPE♠️
Written by- @Bhavana Rohidekar bilagi
No matter how much you deny, no matter how broad minded your family is, there is always a subtle difference between being boy and a girl. One cannot deny that gender gap is a major issue in the Indian society. Men and women have certain defined roles that they play. Men are expected to work and earn for the family, woman are expected to take care of family's basic needs.
When I say gender gap, I do not always mean about Woman's role. Men who would want to be at home and take care of family needs are also criticized. If a man chooses to quit his job, tries to help around with basic chores or does things woman are supposed to do, it is often seen that he is titled incapable. Not just that, men who earn lesser than woman of their house are seen upon differently. If he is not an engineer or doctor, or if he does not have a government job, it is extremely difficult for him to find a bride in case he opts for an arranged marriage. I have seen examples in my own family where my cousin who is a BCom graduate and earns well is not able to get married because the girls' families are looking only for Engineers or Doctors.
In a similar scenario, woman who work outside are expected to finish up with all chores before leaving home. No matter if anyone says it or not, if this is expressed or not, this is expected. Most brides are asked questions on if they know how to cook. Scenarios are changing slowly but to see a complete change, it is going to take a lot of time. Women naturally accepts the husband's family and strives to be a part of it, but men do not have any such obligations or necessities.
If gender defined stereotypes need to be broken, then we need to come along.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO BREAK GENDER STEREOTYPES?
Start from home - Assigning gender defined roles at home is the most common mistake we can do as parents. Boys are assigned different tasks than girls. It is often seen that boys are given the more physical tasks and girls are given the household tasks. When kids of both genders are given same kind of roles, it becomes a practice for boys not to see girls differently or vice versa. Cooking, cleaning, and taking care of one's own needs should be seen as a survival skill rather than a gender defined skill. Boys need to know basic cooking, basic ingredients, basic cleaning procedures and girls must know how to file their documents, take care of their paperwork, basic functional mechanism about anything they use. This way we help to incorporate independence in both sectors and kids develop cognitive ability and learn about collective living.
At School - Encourage both sectors of kids to participate in all kinds of events. Do not reserve certain activities based on gender. Incorporate education about changing bodies of girls and boys once they attain puberty. Make sure right education is conveyed in the right way.
At work - No discrimination or judgements based on gender. Though this has changed a lot these days, there should be allowances to help pregnant/ new and breastfeeding mothers to take care of their child's needs and not lose out on career opportunities. If men need to cater to family duties, they should be allowed that flexibility that Is needed for them to keep work life balance.
As a society - Let us not be judgmental over any situation we come across. If we see a man cleaning his house, cooking, or putting a basic rangoli in front of his house - it is a skill he has learnt or adapted over his life span and there is no harm in displaying it or in helping his mother/sister/ wife to do these things. If we see a woman working day and night to take care of her family needs, she is capable enough to do so. She is skilled and educated and doing what is expected of her but only in another format.
I am a mom of two boys, so I am the only woman in my family of four. I would like my boys to know how to set up the dinner table, how to cook for survival, how to clean their own plates, how to organize their own clothes. Most importantly, I would want them to know that there is no difference in roles of man and woman. Each of us can choose to do what they would want to do.
If we stop living in a judgmental society and start adapting to basic scenarios that we see around, we will have the power to change the mindset of people around us and make a happily ever after for everyone else apart from ourselves.
Love and hugs
⚫⚜️⚫⚜️⚫⚜️⚫⚜️⚫⚜️⚫
May 16, 2021 (Sunday)
YOU ARE READING
Voice of the Wild | Blogs
Random~Our blog book is a collection of answers people don't want to hear questions they didn't ask.~ "If you can't speak out loud, then write out loud." To Inspire. To Create. To Empower. To Educate. Indian Legion presents to you Voice of The Wild, an...
