Bollywood Film "Mrs" Highlights Persistent Gender Inequality in Indian Households

The movie "Mrs" reflects the struggle of women entangled in domestic roles despite progressive changes in employment stats, echoing findings from a recent government survey which shows that Indian women spend significantly more time on unpaid work than men.

In a revealing portrayal of modern Indian society, the Bollywood film "Mrs" has resurfaced the critical issue of gender roles within households, particularly concerning unpaid domestic labor. The narrative follows a woman's experience, married to a gynaecologist, who grapples with an unending cycle of cooking, cleaning, and caregiving—a situation that often stifles her personal aspirations due to subtle societal pressures.

The film, an adaptation of the acclaimed Malayalam movie "The Great Indian Kitchen," has triggered discussions and some pushback on social media, particularly from men's rights groups. However, its themes resonate with troubling statistics from a recent government survey, which indicates that Indian women allocate more than seven hours daily to unpaid domestic and caregiving responsibilities—more than double the time spent by men on similar tasks.

Data reveals that women dedicate approximately 289 minutes to domestic chores and 137 minutes to caregiving, while men commit about 88 minutes to chores and 75 minutes to care activities. Even more concerning is the finding that women invest less time in paid work and self-care when compared to men. Furthermore, a similar survey conducted six years prior showed almost identical results, suggesting that initiatives to empower women have yet to effect significant change.

India’s Time Use Surveys (TUS) track the distribution of individuals' time across various activities, with the second TUS, published recently, indicating nominal shifts. Notably, women aged 15 to 59 now spend 10 minutes less on unpaid domestic work compared to the previous survey, and their participation in employment rose marginally by over three percentage points. This slight decrease may suggest a transition from unpaid to paid work, yet economists caution against viewing this as substantial progress due to the persistent imbalance in domestic responsibilities.

Economics professor Ashwini Deshpande emphasizes the need to analyze TUS data alongside India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR), which rose from about 23% in 2017-2018 to 37% in 2022-2023. Deshpande attributes this rise to not only increased employment opportunities but also economic necessity, indicating that women are increasingly working “double-shifts” out of necessity rather than choice.

This disparity in domestic work is not unique to India, though the difference is significantly pronounced. Globally, women engage in about 2.8 hours more domestic and caregiving work than men, while in India, this gap extends to nearly four hours. The root of this discrepancy lies in deeply entrenched patriarchal values, which dictate strict gender norms and roles, evident even among educated demographics.

The film "Mrs" has not only sparked reflections on domestic labor but also faced backlash from segments of society that resist discussing uncomfortable truths. A men's rights organization even criticized the film for allegedly promoting negativity towards traditional family structures. Comedian Kajol Srinivasan notes that the film reflects societal truths many prefer to ignore and recalls her father's experience taking on household duties which revealed the challenges and unequal power dynamics within domestic labor.

The findings from India’s Time Use Survey reveal that societal change is often slow, and it may be a long time before women can expect to balance their domestic duties more equitably with paid employment. Meanwhile, narratives like that presented in "Mrs" continue to open crucial dialogues about gender roles and domestic responsibilities, posing the important question: who really is doing the dishes?