Stressed Indian Women

Indian women the most stressed in the world, a 2011 Nielsen survey, �Women of Tomorrow�, of 6,500 women across 21 different nations, found, with 87% stating that they felt stressed most of the time. 82% had no free time at all. The study goes on to say that � it wasn�t at all rare to hear of successful professionals who woke up at 4:30 a.m. to make breakfast and lunch for children and parents-in-law, put in a full day at work, then returned home to clean up after the extended family and prepare dinner.� I respect Nielsen and do not question these findings, but I cannot see anyone I know expecting this from a daughter in law, and certainly cannot imagine any young woman I know putting up with such unreasonable expectations.

If I look at anecdotal evidence, the family and especially the mother in law, is now more supportive of the demands of a working woman�s career. I�ve been to any number of family gatherings where the daughter in law is not present, because she has a work commitment. Husbands today, take on greater responsibility in the home, helping out with housework, and child care far more than their own fathers did.

And with domestic help being widely available , why are working women doing so much housework before and after the workday? That Indian working women face great stress, and that they have little leisure time, I do not doubt for a minute, I am just surprised by the possible cause.