Page 17 - June 2022 Edition

PARENTING | PAGE 3 LIFESTYLE

RULES

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t wasn’t till a few years ago

that societies around the world
subscribed to the bipartite
view of how men and women
should live their lives; men
were expected to be the sole
breadwinners while women
I were expected to stay home and
look after the children and manage the
household. Naturally, the term housewife
or homemaker is all too familiar, given
the gender dynamics deemed acceptable
by society. However, more and more men
are challenging those norms and taking
up those more nurturing roles today.
According to a survey by Ipsos MORI,
a market research firm, about 39 per
cent Indians view a father choosing to
stay home full time to look after the masculinity. The archaic belief that
household as being ‘less of a man’, second “HUMOUR men represent the stronger gender or
only to South Korea with 76 per cent. HELPS IN BEING the primary breadwinner is slowly but
The research also stated this is due to TACTFUL AND steadily making way for a more open
traditionally-accepted norms and beliefs DEALING WITH and inclusive approach when it comes
that deem looking after the household as JUDGEMENTAL to pushing the envelope of socially-
a woman’s role. R ead on to know how times acceptable roles and responsibilities.
are changing for the good. SITUATIONS Bhagat is one shining example of men
WITH EASE.” defying gender norms in today’s day
HAVE AN OPEN and age.
According to Bengaluru-based
OUTLOOK counsellor Mahesh Natarajan, “When

India is not new to the concept of this role it comes to being tactful about wanting
reversal; established personalities have to stay home, facing judgemental situations,
proudly taken up the mantle of homemaker, and dealing with them with ease, humour
without shying away from it. Take for helps. Having open conversations about your
example author, columnist, Bollywood desire and intentions is a huge factor, too. If
screenwriter, social media influencer, and that’s not all, it is encouraging to hear more
motivational speaker, Chetan Bhagat. He about the new role reversals and this twist—
quit his high-profile investment banking job behind every successful woman, is her man.
to follow his ambition to become a writer This helps put things into perspective, and
while his wife has a 9 to 5 job. Bhagat is just give some men that added nudge,” Similarly,
one of many men who are subconsciously Mumbai-based Anuj Belgaumkar, a stay-at-
redefining traditional manhood and home father for the past six years, believes

17 • PAGE3 LIFESTYLE • JUNE 2022