The Indian Cooking

How many of you hate to go into the kitchen and cook everyday morning? In India, it is assumed that women are supposed to enjoy cooking and it is looked down on if you do not enjoy and are not passionate about cooking.

The preconceived notions

I got married at an early age and I was just out of college. I was passionate to pursue my career as a Financial Analyst which I did but little did I know along with being passionate about pursuing a career it was conceived that I should be passionate about cooking as well. I should love cooking and differentiate between various daal. It's been 10 years since I married and to this date, I hate cooking as I hated the first day I went into the kitchen. I have been instructed as a woman I should know stitching, cooking, and cleaning, and doing chores at home and let alone working I must also enjoy doing those chores. If not It is perceived that I lack some woman hormones in me or I am looked down.

The Indian society

It is not just my story. Most of the Indian household women if they want to pursue their career they should first be a good cook, homemaker, mother and then they can pursue whatever passions they want to pursue. Although many women successfully balance many things especially in India there are few who struggle and hence, why they sacrifice their careers and make house chores a priority and they are nowhere less talented. They come from a male-dominated society where home science should be a top priority for women.

Recent Times

Although, notions have been changing for two decades. The preconceived notions have not entirely gone. Women have started pursuing their careers full time and employing maids but most of the ownership of the house and child care duties lies on women else she is stigmatized as being careless and a woman who lacks the hormones as she is required. Since, when did hormones guide us to do house chores? Although my spouse is supportive of my career sometimes I cannot be omnipresent. I need to be carefree and I expect someone to be equally responsible.

I am not sure if I am being mean or selfish but I believe the term partner is a partner for a reason. When would the Indian society learn to let women be women of their choice?

Let me know your thoughts on this.