It has always been a social convention that females are meant to do the household work and the males are supposed to earn a living for their family. But with the changing social perceptions and decentralization of economic dependency, this notion of gender-ba(i)sed division of work does not hold fact in today's era. Still, how to dismantle the deep-rooted stereotype in Indian mentality is a super-challenge in itself.
One of the best ways to tackle this age-old stereotype is to inculcate proper values of gender equality in the upcoming generation. For what the children see in their household shapes their perception and personality, they should be educated, both in theory and practice, how to #ShareTheLoad.
1) First and foremost, a child should be taught to do all his chores by himself ever since his childhood, and should not be dependent on family members, mainly the females of the household, to trivial but pivotal chores like fetching drinking water for themselves, etc.
2) The next generation would be unbiased towards this 'division of labour' only when they believe in NOT saying to their sister(s)/mother in the family 'mere kapde dho dena' / 'do wash my clothes today'. Parents should ensure that a child is washing, at the least, their own undergarments when he gets enrolled in 4th or 5th standard in school. This would implant in them the idea of doing their own laundry in future. Although in higher classes due to pressure of competitive studies, a student might not get enough time for laundry and has to depend on their parents for the purpose, but in situations when no elder is available at home or when mother/father are ill, they should take the primary task of doing their own laundry, at the least, if not everyone else's in the house. The main idea is to #ShareTheLoad.
3) Everyone in the household should know how to cook, atleast the basics, and not only the female members. And I am not talking about how to prepare readymade noodles, instant pasta and soups over here, definitely not the Maggi. They should know how to cook over gas stove simple food items, like roti/chapati, dal, rice, so that they could feed themselves and their younger siblings as well when need arises in case of exceptional situations.
The above are just a very few examples how our next generation could get rid of wrong prejudices still prevalent in our society. Everyone shall help in rebuilding our nation as per their own talents and skills. Jai Hind!
P.S. -- Laundry is not simply a women's job any more and the GenNext should be equally perceptive of this vision.
