Life of homemakers
This article discusses the economic invisibility of homemakers in India, highlighting their significant contribution to consumption and national savings. It argues that the lack of professional recognition for domestic labor alienates women and ignores their role as a primary economic driver.
Why it matters
Recognizing domestic labor as an economic activity is crucial for gender equality and accurate macroeconomic policy-making.
There are about 160 million women in India who are occupied as homemakers. On average, a woman spends 297 minutes daily engaged in household chores while a man contributes only 31 minutes daily, according to data from the National Sample Survey Organisation. A homemaker’s job comprises day-to-day household chores such as cooking, cleaning, buying groceries, caring and nursing, managing domestic staff, budgeting, etc. However, homemaking is not a profession. It is not considered an economic activity. This not only dilutes the importance of the job but also alienates those who partake in it, mostly, women. The words woman and homemaker are often used interchangeably in India.
The article advocates for social and economic reform regarding gender roles and labor valuation.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in