WOMEN'S ROLE AS CAREGIVERS AND PATRIARCHY

Abstract

In a small town of Manipur, India, a woman who contracted Covid 19 was expected to continue her duty as a daughter in law. The mother in law, who otherwise had no problem, started questioning her daughter in law's position as a woman when she had to take a break from her daily household chores with her getting infected. To an old woman born and brought up in a patriarchal society, the values of patriarchy with women's most important duty being that of a homemaker, caregiver and nurturer weigh more than anything. Glorification of women on social media posts became quite popular with women being appreciated and glorified for being able to cook or take care of the family despite being Covid positive herself and needing care and medical help. This raises questions as to when is a woman considered deserving of care and help from others? And most importantly, why do we normalise women to work and take care of others when she herself needs it? It is not uncommon to find women getting ready for children, doing household chores even when they are unwell. She is considered rebellious or unfit to be a mother if she puts herself first at any point. While women are considered and expected to be born caregivers who put family before themselves with natural instinct to sacrifice their own health, careers etc. for the families, their sacrifices are not made visible. It is always taken for granted and considered to be of least significance.This paper addresses the role of women as a caregiver at home or as a profession from the lens of feminism. With patriarchy being at the root cause for the plight of women, the paper will try to understand how gender roles are predetermined and how this whole belief system around “care” as a woman's duty is a result of it. It is only when patriarchy is addressed that we will be able to find a way to sustainable care in the future with everyone across all genders being able to avail it and their works being respected.