New Delhi - A new Bollywood film, "Mrs," is making waves as it sheds light on a crucial issue: even in educated Indian families, women are predominantly relegated to unpaid domestic roles. The lead character, married to a gynaecologist, finds herself ensnared in a cycle of cooking, cleaning, and caregiving. Rather than overt coercion, her aspirations are stifled by subtle criticism and societal expectations.
The film, inspired by the acclaimed Malayalam movie "The Great Indian Kitchen," has ignited debate, particularly among men's rights advocates who have voiced strong objections on social media. However, its themes are poignantly mirrored in recent government data. A new survey reveals that women in India dedicate over seven hours daily to unpaid domestic labor—more than twice the time men spend on similar tasks. Specifically, women allocate 289 minutes to domestic chores and 137 minutes to caregiving, while men allocate 88 minutes to housework and 75 minutes to care responsibilities.
Despite campaigns aimed at empowering women, the most recent survey's findings echo those from six years prior. The release of India's latest Time Use Survey (TUS) demonstrates how individuals allocate their time across varied activities. Conducted nationwide, the survey collects data from participants aged six to 59, documenting their actions over the previous day.
The recent TUS does highlight a slight shift: women aged 15 to 59 are now spending 10 minutes less on unpaid domestic chores, with employment-related activities increasing by just over three percentage points. This has been interpreted by some as a positive trend toward a transition from unpaid to paid labor.
Economists, however, warn not to be too optimistic. They argue that these shifts don't fully portray the reality women face, often juggling both paid employment and the bulk of unpaid domestic duties. According to Ashwini Deshpande, an economist at Ashoka University, the rising Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) is not solely the result of new job opportunities for women but is significantly fueled by economic necessity.
“Women are not delaying employment until they can offload domestic chores. Instead, they seek work to support their families, resulting in 'double-shifts' of paid jobs and unpaid household responsibilities,” Prof. Deshpande explains.
On a global scale, the disparity in household responsibilities is a common phenomenon, but it is notably pronounced in India. While women worldwide average about 2.8 more hours than men on care and domestic activities, in India, this discrepancy reaches nearly four hours.
Sociologists attribute this imbalance to deeply rooted patriarchal values, which impose rigid gender roles, even among the educated elite. Such societal pressures not only influence women's experiences but also affect perceptions of narratives surrounding them.
While "Mrs" has resonated with many viewers, it has also faced backlash, particularly from some men who accuse it of depicting negative stereotypes about traditional family structures. Comedian Kajol Srinivasan reflects on this dynamic, sharing insights about her father’s attempts at managing household tasks after quitting his job.
"In the beginning, he was eager and tried various recipes," she recounts. "But he soon found the work overwhelming, learning that domestic responsibilities are not just physically challenging—they also reveal power dynamics."
Women's experiences are often colored by expectations that they accept low status in family structures. "When men express admiration for women in their lives, it often revolves around their willingness to make sacrifices for others," Ms. Srinivasan notes.
As India's Time Use Survey indicates, societal change is a slow process, and genuine improvements in the distribution of domestic labor may still be a long way off. Yet films like "Mrs" continue to provoke crucial dialogues about domestic roles, prompting viewers to ask critical questions—such as, who is truly responsible for the dishes?
