Women's Day 2023: Story Of Nina Mukherjee- A Homemaker, And What Women's Day Means To Her

As part of our Women's Day series, ABP Live spoke to Nina Mukherjee, who is a homemaker, to know what women's day means to her and to get a glimpse of the lifestyle of an average Indian homemaker.

Nina Mukherjee- A Housewife Who Shares What Women's Day Means To Her ( Image Source :Nina Mukherjee )

New Delhi: International Women's Day is celebrated worldwide on March 8, and it is a day to honour the advancements made in gender equality and women's rights as well as to draw attention to the ongoing difficulties and barriers that women experience around the world.

Every year, a new theme is chosen for International Women's Day, which seeks to advance gender equality, empower women, and increase public awareness of problems that impact women around the world. The day provides a chance to recognise the accomplishments of women and to motivate younger generations of girls and women to pursue their aspirations.

As part of our Women's Day series, ABP Live spoke to various women from all walks of life, who shared what the day means to them. One such woman was Nina Mukherjee, who is a homemaker, to know what women's day means to her and to get a glimpse of the lifestyle of an average Indian homemaker.

Speaking about what women's day meant to her, Nina said, "For me, every day should be women's day. As homemakers, we also want our space and time. The male members of the family go to work and have a life outside the home, but as far as we are concerned, we have no work life. Hence, there should be something for us also so that we too can keep a day totally to ourselves."

The Times Are Changing:

Nina spoke about how things have changed in modern times and the way women are at par with men. She told, "Women today have carved their position in every sphere- be it in the corporate world, or in politics, and have in fact done better than men in some aspects. In fact, today, women are also leading and managing companies, and this has been possible through women's rights and equality."

Being a woman in 21st-century India, Nina believes in the progress women have made over the ages, but then again shuns the backwardness that is still prevalent in some sections of the society where young girls are still not educated and are considered a burden. She then adds, "Such women must be taught and inspired by other women leaders so that they too can come to the forefront and create their own identity."

Importance Of Space For A Woman:

Nina told ABP Live that a woman, whether she is a homemaker or is working, should always have her own space- a span of time during which she can pursue her hobbies, do something for herself or maybe just sit back and relax.

Sharing her own experience over the ages, she then said, "Earlier this was not the case with me that I could have my space and time. There are a lot of household chores that I have to do in a day, and I realised that it is very important to have some time for myself, so that I can relax a bit. This thought encouraged me to go out and interact with people and have my own circle of friends with whom I can hang out at times. It made me feel better and the interesting part is that today along with my group of friends, I run a small NGO, where we help poor children, carry out some donations and also help girl children in need."

Talking about her NGO, she said, "We have seen little girls who have been taught till grade 3 or 4 after which they are made to sit back at home. So, we try to motivate women to educate their girl children so that they can have a bright future and take a stand in society. Doing something for them indeed makes me feel happy and I get all the support from my family members for this."

If You Were A Working Woman:

On being asked whether she ever wanted to work, Nina replied, "No, I never had that craze of being a working woman. I always wanted to have a family and stay at home with everyone. But, I definitely get inspired when I see women managing both work and office. To be honest, at times the idea of working also crosses my mind, as then even I would have my own identity."

"For instance, speaking about my daughter, she has her dreams and aspirations of doing something big in life, to work, earn and fulfil her wishes, but back in time when I was of her age, I did not have such goals in life, maybe because of the societal structure at that time. As far as I can recall, I had worked in a primary school for two to three months but I quit after that.", she further said.

Pursuing Hobbies And Doing Something For Oneself:

Nina told that she was fond of embroidery and crafts in her early days, but could not continue with that after she got married. On being asked, if she wanted to begin again, she said,  "If I get that support from my family, I would definitely want to start with it all over again. Not, just that, I also think I could do something with my culinary skills as well. But, for that, I would need the support of my family, without which none of it is possible. Yet, I don't feel too bad about it as I tend to keep myself engaged among friends and family."

Sharing further, she said, "It would be great to start a small home-based business, have my own earnings with which I can fulfil my wishes, give gifts to my people and buy things for myself. Although, I can do all that now also, I have to seek permission before doing."

Sharing The Labour:

Nina also believes that nowadays, when people are speaking for equality and equal rights and opportunities, the work at home should also be divided equally. "It always happens that a woman, whether she is a homemaker or is working, has to do the household chores as well as get the grocery, buy the vegetables etc. She is working both inside the house as well as outside and more often than not there is no one to share the labour. It is important for men also to learn to help at home, particularly in the present scenario where mostly both men and women are working."

"Being a homemaker is a full-time job, yet when someone asks, we say that 'we are not working'. We work day and night, without salary and leaves.", she added. 

Lastly, sharing a message on this occasion to all the women out there, she said, "Wishing a very happy women's day to strong, intelligent, talented and simply wonderful women of this world. Women should get equal rights and their due in life. In today's world of equal opportunities, women will stand together with men."