In the world of cinema, Bollywood often reflects societal realities, and the new film "Mrs" does just that by starkly addressing the issue of gender roles in India. Following the life of a woman married to a gynaecologist, the movie portrays her continuous struggle with unpaid domestic work. Through a narrative echoing her frustrations of juggling cooking, cleaning, and caregiving, not enforced, but rather coerced through societal expectations and subtle criticisms, the film is a poignant reminder of the lingering gender disparities in modern Indian households.
Recent data from the government's Time Use Survey (TUS) reinforces the film's message: Indian women spend over seven hours a day engaged in unpaid domestic and caregiving work, significantly more than their male counterparts, who average just over two hours daily. The findings reveal women contribute 289 minutes to household chores and 137 minutes towards caregiving, compared to men’s 88 minutes and 75 minutes respectively. This staggering divide illustrates the persistent burdens women bear, even amid efforts geared towards women’s empowerment.
The TUS data indicated slight improvements since the last survey six years ago, with women's unpaid domestic work dropping by 10 minutes and participation in paid employment increasing by a mere three percentage points. However, even with these changes, experts caution against reading too much into the numbers. Ashwini Deshpande, an economics professor, argues that the increase in Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR)—from 23% in 2017-2018 to 37% in 2022-2023—is largely influenced by economic necessity rather than a decrease in domestic burden.
Women's reluctance to delay employment for the promise of less household work further reflects the relentless realities they face. Researchers have found that women, compelled to take on paid work to meet financial demands, often endure a “double shift,” one that includes long hours at work followed by additional hours at home.
This gender disparity is not unique to India—a universal challenge persists, yet the gap in unpaid labor is notably more pronounced there, with Indian women spending nearly four hours more on domestic work compared to men—almost 1.5 hours more than the global average.
Critics of "Mrs" argue that the film propagates negativity toward traditional family structures, leading to backlash from men's rights groups. Yet, voices like Mumbai-based comedian Kajol Srinivasan emphasize its importance in stirring uncomfortable discussions about gender roles and housework dynamics. Reflecting on her father's attempt to shoulder home responsibilities, she highlights the societal imbalance of power tied to domestic tasks, underscoring that the title of "breadwinner" often dictates respect and authority in familial structures.
The TUS findings indicate that, while change is inching along, both societal norms and perceptions about gender roles remain deeply entrenched. Films such as "Mrs" play a crucial role in igniting discourse on these substantial societal issues, inviting audiences to confront the uncomfortable reality: when it comes to domestic tasks, the question persists—who's doing the dishes?
Recent data from the government's Time Use Survey (TUS) reinforces the film's message: Indian women spend over seven hours a day engaged in unpaid domestic and caregiving work, significantly more than their male counterparts, who average just over two hours daily. The findings reveal women contribute 289 minutes to household chores and 137 minutes towards caregiving, compared to men’s 88 minutes and 75 minutes respectively. This staggering divide illustrates the persistent burdens women bear, even amid efforts geared towards women’s empowerment.
The TUS data indicated slight improvements since the last survey six years ago, with women's unpaid domestic work dropping by 10 minutes and participation in paid employment increasing by a mere three percentage points. However, even with these changes, experts caution against reading too much into the numbers. Ashwini Deshpande, an economics professor, argues that the increase in Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR)—from 23% in 2017-2018 to 37% in 2022-2023—is largely influenced by economic necessity rather than a decrease in domestic burden.
Women's reluctance to delay employment for the promise of less household work further reflects the relentless realities they face. Researchers have found that women, compelled to take on paid work to meet financial demands, often endure a “double shift,” one that includes long hours at work followed by additional hours at home.
This gender disparity is not unique to India—a universal challenge persists, yet the gap in unpaid labor is notably more pronounced there, with Indian women spending nearly four hours more on domestic work compared to men—almost 1.5 hours more than the global average.
Critics of "Mrs" argue that the film propagates negativity toward traditional family structures, leading to backlash from men's rights groups. Yet, voices like Mumbai-based comedian Kajol Srinivasan emphasize its importance in stirring uncomfortable discussions about gender roles and housework dynamics. Reflecting on her father's attempt to shoulder home responsibilities, she highlights the societal imbalance of power tied to domestic tasks, underscoring that the title of "breadwinner" often dictates respect and authority in familial structures.
The TUS findings indicate that, while change is inching along, both societal norms and perceptions about gender roles remain deeply entrenched. Films such as "Mrs" play a crucial role in igniting discourse on these substantial societal issues, inviting audiences to confront the uncomfortable reality: when it comes to domestic tasks, the question persists—who's doing the dishes?
