My maid has a problem with my husband making me breakfast. When will we get over stupid gender roles?

I am a strong, independent woman, who doesn't believe in adhering to the stereotype. Photo Courtesy: YouTube/ YouTubeMovies

When I got up this morning, I found my husband in kitchen making us some breakfast. I was starving so I quickly sat down at the dining table and wolfed down the mashed potatoes and toast. And while I was still enjoying the buttery bits of the breadcrumbs left, I heard my domestic help clearing her throat.

Assuming that she had something important to say, I encouraged her to speak. Ten seconds into the monologue, I regretted prodding her on. "Madam, yeh acchi baat nahi hai. Aap so rahe the bhaiya ne breakfast banaya," she reprimanded me in a serious tone.

For a few seconds, I just didn't know how to react. I will not lie, but at that precise moment I felt a twinge of guilt and shame. And that's unfortunate because I don't believe in stupid gender roles. One of the prime reasons I fell for my husband was because he was not stuck up with his masculinity and false sense of entitlement. He believed in sharing the work load--inside the confines of our house and beyond it too.

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So, up until then, his helping me around the house was a non-conspicuous topic. An unsaid rule that both of was robotically followed. But, when the help pointed it out, it brought back a rush of emotions and I was enraged. I am a strong, independent woman, who doesn't believe in adhering to the stereotype. If women can work and take care of the house, then so can men. Sticking women with all the household responsibilities is one thing that peeves me out the most.

Moreover, I was infuriated with the ideology that shouts if a woman doesn't get up early in the morning, cleans the house, and cooks meals three times a day she is a bad wife. At least, this is what my help had tried to imply. Also, she is not the first person to do so. Most of my friends and elders who drop by our house don't let go of the chance to take a jab at me, when they see my husband helping me in the kitchen. To some people it may be a miracle, but in all honesty, this needs to become a norm.

Why can't we accept the fact that all members who live together, need to contribute to the household work irrespective of their gender. Being a man shouldn't automatically translate into freedom from household duties.

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