Housewives - some thoughts about this word ...

 

I don't know since when, i started hearing the term "HouseWife". Down in the memory lane, i was asked in  my elementary school about what my mom do, and i was confused (because i am habituated of seeing my Maa work for all the household work), then i came back home and asked to my Maa, "What do you do?", after a pause, she told "i am a housewife", satisfied with the answer i went back to school next day and told proudly that "My mother is a housewife". But over the period of time, when i grew up and grow mature, many times i feel that this word "HouseWife" is underestimated and underrated. My question today is "WHY"? This question off late brings a lots of memories: During my school and even some part of working life also whenever Maa is around i was always welcome home and serve with good fresh food, she will listen to my day. Similar i observe with my kids too , if i am at home they also want to hang around at home, they like to get some warm food, they want to feel the warmth of my presence. Just because those are feelings and services are not paid so they are termed as "Housewives" ? 

I tried to read about the origin of this word - Housewife - came from the word hussy - which is another word for sewing kit  ( Link ). So no wonder that this word and its meaning and its role is underestimated. In Sanskrit ( language spoken in ancient India - Vedic era ) the similar role was called as  'Grihini' - and that comes from the word " Griha " means Home. (sanskrit word). I like the weightage of that word even the meaning is also respectful.  Karl Marks was among first intellectual who bring this to the notice of the wider society that women household labor is mostly unacknowledged. I found a very good debate on this , - link. Because of the unpaid household work at the end of the day wives are financially dependent on husbands, so that huge amount of work and effort is unseen, fore-granted and devalued most of the time. 

Most of the us don't think about it much, and accept that terms and treatment from the society but there is no harm in teaching our next generation to bring the change. Many may disagree, and say these feelings doesn't exist, but most of us with the current socio - economic structure will accept this. My kids come back home from school and stay themselves since the age of 8/9, my younger one goes to Daycare since age 1 and she does not have much option, with that, saying so, do i encourage that my daughters wont join job ? No , as a mother, i would really want them to go to outside work(where she can apply her learned knowledge) that will bring them their own identity - apart from being called as His Wife, His/Her Mother, His/Her Daughter, His/Her Daughter-in-law which are the relationship names. But what i want to say here is let's move to valuing the contribution of housewives. At the end of the day everyone should enjoy and appreciated for whatever they do.

So whenever we get the unconditional love after reaching home, get warm food and someone listens to your whole day struggle - lets value it more than ever!!!