UPSC Mains
GS Paper I
Society & Gender
Girls Conditioned from Childhood to Take Up Domestic Burden
India’s Time Use Survey (TUS) 2025 shows unequal sharing of unpaid household work in adulthood often starts with gender-based habits taught as early as age 10.
GIRLS’ DOMESTIC WORK BY AGE 30
~7.5 hours/day
URBAN WOMEN OUT OF LABOUR FORCE
52.5% cite childcare/domestic duty
SAME FOR MEN
Less than 1%
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Context
- India’s Time Use Survey (TUS) 2025 shows that unequal sharing of unpaid household work in adulthood often starts with gender-based habits taught during childhood, as early as age 10.
Key Findings & Link with Labour Force Participation
- Gender gap widens with age: Girls’ domestic work rises sharply from age 10, reaching nearly 7.5 hours/day by age 30, while boys’ contribution remains low.
- Gendered conditioning: Girls are more often prepared for household responsibilities, while boys are encouraged towards outdoor activities.
Childcare and domestic responsibilities are the leading reason for women staying out of the labour force — 52.5% of urban women, 40% of rural women, compared with less than 1% of men.
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Way Forward
Start Early
Policy must move beyond adult-focused solutions (childcare, community kitchens, safe mobility, flexible work) to address unequal task assignment between boys and girls in childhood.
De-gender Chores, Not Remove Them
The goal is not to eliminate chores but to de-gender them.
Role of Schools
Give every child equal opportunity to learn practical life skills — cooking, home management, stitching, carpentry, financial management.
Beyond Enrolment
India has invested in keeping girls in school; equal attention must go to how girls spend time outside school.
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Source: The Hindu
