When can a working woman truly enjoy her life?

No sooner than I started my professional career, I realized the brunt fact that doing a job is all together a different game for boys and that for girls.

One day I woke up late in the morning as I was so tired. I went to kitchen and saw my mom almost running from one place to other and juggling between various tasks - cleaning lunch boxes, cutting vegetables, preparing breakfast and lunch. Daily I help her by sharing some or other work. That day I couldn't as I was already late. At last she was done with the work but I found her to be totally tired, sweating profusely and from her uneasiness I realized that her neck again started to ache, which is literally intolerable. My mom in her 40’s wasn't able to do the daily chores all alone with the same ease that she once used to. My heart sank by that sight. That moment I thought of quitting the job and stay at home to help my mom.

 I went to her and asked “Why don’t you ask feroz (my elder brother) or dad to help you? Why you suffer by doing it all alone?” She replied in a feeble voice by holding her neck “How can they do all these? And why on earth did you get that thought?”I was struck by her reply. Why boys shouldn't work in the kitchen? Is it something wrong? If my dad would have helped her in all these years she might not have become as restless as she is today. Moreover there is nothing wrong in my dad’s side as well, it is only because he was not born and brought up in a society where he is expected to help his wife in the daily routines. I don’t find any logic behind this and argued with my mom on this topic. She outraged on me shouting “Don’t behave like this at your mother-in-law’s house and bring a bad name to us!!”

I left for the office in a downhearted mood. I pondered over this. I didn’t get answer for these questions- Why wouldn't these mom’s rise up for their comfort? Why would they accept all pain staking tasks and do them calmly? Why do they think that a man working in kitchen and helping her by sharing work is entirely condemnable? Who framed all these rules?

That day I feared for the first time to get married. What if my husband doesn’t help me at all and how can I balance the work at office and that at home? I then emphasized the pain of all working women around me. Only less than 10% of them get the help from their families but rest of them silently undergo this agony.

I then found the solution to overcome all these is that a woman herself first should develop the self esteem and stop distinguishing between a boy and a girl. A man should accept this change and perceive that healthy & happy wife can bring in more happiness for the family.