Sunday, October 6, 2002		Feedback

Amazing amount of work non-workers do

THIS refers to Reicha Tanwar’s write-up "Amazing amount of work non-workers" do (September 15). Every woman is involved in housework whether she is single, unmarried, widowed, mother, working for a paid job, or otherwise. This is a near universal fact about women. These workers do not have job descriptions, timings, or even pay checks. It is not even considered ‘work’ in normal parlance by the family, and even by economic and legal experts. It is of late being recognised as work among the economists and the academicians. The analysis of the work of the housewife is crucial to any analysis of the position of women in society.

A day in the life of a housewife is made up of little trials and tribulations too small to mention, but large enough to try the patience of all the patriarchs. The wife bears of burden and the heat of the day, her whole energy of mind and body gets exhausted and yet she manages to "welcome her husband with a smile" at the end of the day. She does it for in women ‘love’ is strong. Should we not ask what he does to lighten her burden? In fact, the malaise of the middle class women is a societal and not an individual problem and requires for its solution changes in the society and its values.

K. M. VASHISHT, Mansa

Censored

This refers to the article "Censored" by Geeta Seshu (August 18). It has raised many interesting and thought-provoking questions against the depiction of pornography. In this context one must view the effect of depiction of sexuality on the society. The various crimes against the women are direct consequences of sexually explicit portrayal of women on various channels around the clock. The overdose of sex in feature films and TV channels certainly leaves a scar on the psyche of adolescent viewers. Thus, pornography in the media should be banned. Nature has its own means to teach sex and its enjoyment to every living being.

V.K. Sharma, Shimla

This refers to "All women need to develop their creative instinct" by Veena Verma (August 25).

I want to commend the writer for sketching a very positive picture of a working woman who accomplishes her double duties quite efficiently.

However, the sketch must not make the non-working women feel inferior. No one can deny the importance of self-effacing, hospitable and sociable role of the ladies at home.

Which parents won’t desire that their daughter-in-law should take the charge of their family and let them have hours of leisure?

Which child won’t wish for his mother’s warm cuddle, when he totters back from school?

Which husband won’t crave for a wife with steaming cup of coffee/tea in her hands, a smile on her face and eyes promising unflinching companionship and understanding, assuring her complete dependence on him, making him feel important, ingredients enough to relieve his whole day’s fatigue. Obviously, the members of a working woman remain deprived of such vital stuff of life.

Amrita Khanna, Naya Nangal