In many desi cultures, especially in India, there are several traditional gender roles that define how a family functions – one of them being a woman’s role to take care of her in-laws. This responsibility extends beyond looking after the husband and the children. A woman often finds herself taking care of the entire household, her parents-in-law and other additional members if they all live under the same roof. While this creates a significant burden on women, men are typically expected to care only for their wives and children. There is a clear imbalance in the relationship.
Indians on Reddit have been trying to decode why men are not expected to take care of their in-laws i.e. the family of the wife just like women are expected to take care of their in-laws without question.
Why aren’t men expected to care for their in-laws ?
by inAskIndia
Let’s try to decode this, as this subject is more complicated than it seems.
Traditionally speaking, Indian society has been patriarchal, with men holding primary power and women being subordinate. In this structure, a woman’s primary role is seen as maintaining the household and taking care of the family. This includes the extended family, such as the husband’s parents.
In many cases, when a woman gets married, she moves into her husband’s home, leaving her own parents behind. This practice, known as “patrilocality” reinforces the expectation that she will now care for her husband’s family. The man, on the other hand, remains in his family home and is not expected to take on similar responsibilities for his wife’s parents.
As a result, women are often expected to manage household chores, cook, clean, and care for children, as well as look after their in-laws. On top of this, working women face the added pressure of balancing their job with these extensive domestic duties.
In contrast, men are typically expected to be the breadwinners. Their primary responsibility is often seen as providing financial support for the family. While this is also a significant responsibility, it does not include the same level of day-to-day caretaking and household management that women undertake.
Here’s what people online had to say about this:
There is a solution to this gender bias. By sharing duties, changing mindsets, and encouraging male participation in caretaking roles, we can work towards a society where both men and women share the responsibilities of family life equally.