A tweet like this would've been unthinkable, let alone in India, but even in the most hip parts of US as late as 1960 or even 1970
Goes to show the degree to which our ideas about gender roles have changed in the past few decades
Goes to show the degree to which our ideas about gender roles have changed in the past few decades
The Gender-neutral society is a remarkable experiment - a first in human history. But it doesn't look upon itself as an experiment...
But as the "naturally just" state, as though the past 10K years of civilization was all wrong about gender
But as the "naturally just" state, as though the past 10K years of civilization was all wrong about gender
This is so radical and revolutionary. Yet people hardly ever comment on it.
In our preoccupation with numerous other political issues, this huge sea-change in the way we approach gender has very nearly gone unnoticed
In our preoccupation with numerous other political issues, this huge sea-change in the way we approach gender has very nearly gone unnoticed
A counter to what I wrote would be -
Hey...Radical feminism long predates 1970
Wasn't the "Second Sex" by Simone De Beauvoir published in 1949?
How about Betty Friedan's Feminine Mystique published in 1963?
Hey...Radical feminism long predates 1970
Wasn't the "Second Sex" by Simone De Beauvoir published in 1949?
How about Betty Friedan's Feminine Mystique published in 1963?
But these were still regarded as "radical thinkers"
Very radical
Mainstream Left-liberal politics of say JFK or Harold Wilson, hardly embraced these radical ideas
Most Democratic voters in 1960 would've regarded it as perfectly normal that household work is dominated by women
Very radical
Mainstream Left-liberal politics of say JFK or Harold Wilson, hardly embraced these radical ideas
Most Democratic voters in 1960 would've regarded it as perfectly normal that household work is dominated by women
On why the change has been subliminal almost, without being played out in political debates -
My view is - the change has happened at a micro-level..With families responding to changes in the economy and greater female workforce participation
My view is - the change has happened at a micro-level..With families responding to changes in the economy and greater female workforce participation
The changes have taken place largely because people have "voluntarily" changed in response to economic incentives.
Not because of feminism or any radical thought movement.
An apolitical revolution so to speak, but whose votaries do not acknowledge the apolitical nature of it
Not because of feminism or any radical thought movement.
An apolitical revolution so to speak, but whose votaries do not acknowledge the apolitical nature of it
And as the change is incentive-driven and contingent on family-level decisions, the "equality" sought after will never be achieved universally
E.g. A household where both husband and wife are in similar jobs may share household work 50-50
But if husband is a CEO and wife a receptionist (or vice versa), will the division be 50-50? No
But if husband is a CEO and wife a receptionist (or vice versa), will the division be 50-50? No
In an Indian context it is interesting to note that unlike in the US, there are no real culture wars around gender.
Not as yet.
There is no "Gender role" conservatism in India.
Everyone is "liberal" on gender. Be it RSS, Modi, Sonia, or Mamta
Not as yet.
There is no "Gender role" conservatism in India.
Everyone is "liberal" on gender. Be it RSS, Modi, Sonia, or Mamta
In part because India is a society with a steeper economic ladder to climb, relative to US
So people get the "pragmatic" case for revisiting gender roles.
The ideological case may be voiced by a few radicals. But it is not needed.
The Pragmatic case alone suffices
So people get the "pragmatic" case for revisiting gender roles.
The ideological case may be voiced by a few radicals. But it is not needed.
The Pragmatic case alone suffices
