Happy Holidays
By Uliyaah
I have always disliked holidays.
As a child all I could ever think of was my mom and aunts in the kitchen cooking all day, while my dad and uncles sat in the living room watching whatever entertainment was on.
The clear division of watching the two groups was striking.
Why is it that even my mom and aunts, who made more than their respective husbands, are tasked with this labor?
That's because women are born into the role of caregivers and are trained to perform this role throughout their lives, unpaid and undervalued. Of course, there is the factor that some may enjoy the role of a caregiver and gain satisfaction from it, but it is naive to say that all women who perform those tasks do it because they enjoy it and not because they feel obligated to.
I remember at some point in my childhood, I asked my mom why she was the one always cooking, which she responded to by saying, "If not me, then who else would?".
This was the response I was met with whenever I would ask why she would be the one to perform a domestic task instead of my dad. A response that is likely the thought of most people who have found themselves in the role of a caregiver.
Looking back, I can't help but recognize the societal expectations and gender roles that perpetuate the unequal distribution of domestic responsibilities. The dissatisfaction I felt during holidays wasn't merely a personal aversion but a reflection of a broader issue deeply rooted in cultural norms.
As I've grown older, my perspective has evolved, and I find myself questioning these roles. It's not about resenting the act of caregiving; it's about challenging the assumptions that dictate who should bear the burden of such tasks.
It is essential to acknowledge the inherent inequality in domestic roles. By fostering a culture that values shared responsibilities and recognizes and fairly rewards the acts of domestic service, we pave the way for a more inclusive and balanced society—one where holidays are marked by genuine joy and the community.