Get Inspired, Be Empowered › Forums › Sexism & Patriarchy › Why are Indian women expected to be ‘homely’? › Reply To: Why are Indian women expected to be ‘homely’?
This whole notion that a woman should be homely and should look after the home arises from the religious texts that have greatly affect the gender divide and the gender roles in our society. The notions which tell a woman that her husband is her god and that she has a religious duty to look after her, have gathered a strong foothold in our society. With the deep-rooted patriarchal mund set that we have, it is not an easy job to uproot these notions from our society because by doing that, we are basically challenging the power imbalance. Whenever the power imbalance is challenged, it requires giving up of the privileges and privileges are not easy to give up.
If we look at these notions from a modern point of view that they have no place in our society. With the overall development that we have seen in all the fields over the last 100 years, it would be wrong to say that genders have specific pre-defined roles in society. These days, when women are participating in combat roles with great vigor, there hardly remains doubt that gender roles matters now. By saying that women are only meant for homely and household work, we are basically challenging the constitution evolution that this country has seen for over 70 years. We are challenging the fundamental right of this constitution and this should never be allowed to happen.
Now is the right time to hit the iron when it is hot. The kind of change that education has brought in society, we must fully utilize its benefits and work towards dismantling the old notions which have no place now. A meaningful change can only happen when a strong political will is shown by our politicians. Along with that, we also have to pledge towards gender equality.