Being born into an Indian family is almost a tradition that enables itself to exhaust the minds of mothers and mothers-in-law and their high set expectations they have for their own sons burdening their daughters-in-law. A list of prerequisites in order to marry their sons has already been set in place by the women. The issue that lies within these voiced thoughts are often not unfamiliar to many. It’s a methodology of having to learn to cook and clean the household, which inexplicably, is set up to unrealistic standards of devious mothers-in-law who see the world in their boys.
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that mothers have a soft spot for their sons while fathers will always need the comfort and compassion of their daughters. But why is it that Indian mothers, in particular, raise their sons on a throne like a king who shall, by her will, do no household chores, or all hell shall break loose.
Growing up in an Indian household myself, learning how to cook or refusing to learn ignites a fire in my mother. It is often the same argument, day after day, and somewhere along the lines of “What will your mother-in-law say?… Do you think your husband will help you with chores, you’ve got to be kidding!…No one wants someone who can’t cook and clean…” But in questioning my actions, she in turn only made me loathe the action more. There is this switch of direct gender change when an Indian mother sees her son, or if anything forbids, you direct the ever-growing number of chores you have to the precious little baby boy who will never really grow up.
For goodness sakes, we are living in the 21st century where woman have been granted their independence and their jobs don’t consist of slaving away like Cinderella, day after day. Why isn’t the streamlined set of firing questions issued at boys or rather yet, men? Are they blinded by their own misconceptions and the ideals of when they got married? Or better yet, do they believe that men are here to be pleased and waited on hand and foot?
I for one, believe in the concept of equality. Rather than demanding your way through things or forcing actions, perhaps it is time we learnt to share and take responsibility as grown adults. Perhaps it is time that we grow out of old concepts and you do your job and I’ll do mine, split, fair and equal. And to all Indian mothers, we know you’re scared your son will starve, so instead of putting him on a pedestal and feeding his expectations and belly too, give him a few lessons on how to prepare a meal or few, for maybe one day, if he ever gains some appreciation for his ‘beloved’ wife, he could treat her to a hot and fresh home cooked meal upon her return home.
Inspiration credits to my two best friends.
~Apoetbyheart
I'm a journalist 