The concept of gender equality is constantly evolving and has developed into a very powerful movement in society. Overall awareness is starting to increase, however we know, that we have a long way to go, to become truly equal for all genders. Over the past few years, addressing gender equality has been a priority for workplaces, but has it in our homes?
The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the disparity even further, with homes becoming workplaces, offices, schools and playgrounds, it only increased the burden on mostly women to juggle between managing homes, children, elders, dependents and careers. The impact of the multiplied workload on the women was evident on their overall wellbeing & also impacted their continuity in workforce. There has been a lot of research on this, and all indicate, that woman took up to three times more unpaid housework. This revelation is what makes for an interesting question to face, is our life at home equal and balanced?
Addressing equality at home
Gender Equality is a fundamental human right. Yet despite progress, women, girls & underrepresented genders around the world do not fully experience equal rights. Moreover, their potential as economic, social & sustainable development change-agents remains underutilized. The COVID crisis disproportionally affected women and risks reversing the limited progress that has been made for them. Yet, it also provides an opportunity to disrupt gender stereotypes and bringing more balanced responsibility to running a household and build more gender inclusivity in our lives at home and hopefully to society as well.
Addressing equality at home does not only support the needed positive change here and now, it also will positively impact the future generations and their understanding and perception of equal gender roles at home and as well as work.
However, everything is not bleak, if we look around us, we will be able to find good inspiration of role models around us in our families and friends where homes reflect the balanced thinking, whether it is from preparing meals together, to sharing household responsibilities like cleaning and washing to being a partner for financial responsibilities & supportive of others career journeys.
The pandemic presented an opportunity & was embraced by quite a few families to have reevaluated sharing responsibilities at home. This adaptation started the wave of shift in gender norms at home and brought in more sensitivity toward women at workplaces who constantly juggled work and home. This humanistic acceptance by organizations and leaders of understanding and supporting the multifold responsibilities of managing home and work, will become a crucial factor for companies to be good employer brands in the future.
Change begins at home, but should not end there
This shift of gender norms that started in our homes, are bringing positive movements in our workplaces as well. The ability to appreciate and support our coworkers to shoulder the responsibilities of home is much appreciated by the workforce.
Organisations are redefining the workplace set ups to be able to support women and men coworkers to balance work and homes, whether it is on offering employment contracts on not just the company’s needs but make room for the individual’s needs — 40hr, 32hr, 24hr, 18hr work weeks or assignment/project-based employment — from students, to mothers, to retired coworkers, for someone who can only work for 4 hours a day or someone who wants to work only 3 days per week, to having support set ups at work, daycare centers, flexible working hours, remote working, to providing wellness partners for emotional, financial and mental wellbeing.
Organizations today have a heightened awareness towards their responsibilities to societies and how they can impact change in mindset & celebrate positive changes. Breaking the glass ceiling does take time and effort. It can bring a lot of generational shifts, but the day you decide to become the mouthpiece recognizing the need for it & committing to it, you will realize that there is a growing community, who are collaborating in a fantastic way to move this initiative – as it is good for the society at large.
The starting point for any change is awareness, I do invite all the readers to take a pause and think about everyday equality and start a conversation about the equality in your home, (without tearing each other’s hair out).
Here are some ideas for conversation starters, bringing some inspiration from my workplace, where we constantly think about Life at Home and how to make every day better: 1. What’s the best thing about sharing a home with you? Don’t be modest. 2. Name the best and worst house chores. 3. How many hours a week do you spend on housework? 4. Pick one: a month’s holiday from housework or work-work? 5. Do you do any behind-the-scenes housework that goes unnoticed? 6. What’s your worst home habit? 7. Ever think, “I’ll just get on and do it myself”, and then feel grumpy and unappreciated? 8. Pretend it’s before you moved in together. What talk do you wish you’d had in terms of responsibilities? 9. “One thing I appreciate my partner doing at home is…” 10. “One thing I could do more of at home is…”
This women’s day let’s do our part for bringing awareness to household equality, because an equal every day is a better every day. After all, when it comes to going FiftyFifty, home is where it all begins.
(The views expressed in the article are penned down by Parineeta Cecil Lakra, Country People & Culture Manager, IKEA India, solely for BW People publication. The publication has no role in views expressed within their article)