Key Facts
The kitchen is often seen as a space of love, but in Indian households, the burden of cooking and cleaning disproportionately falls on women. According to the National Family Health Survey-5, about 84% of married women decide daily meals. The survey also found that 14% of men and women support physical violence if a wife 'does not cook properly.' A 2024 report on time use noted women spend 140 minutes daily on household care, compared to 74 minutes for men.
Voices from Across India
Men living alone or away from parents tend to cook more. Dildar Talukdar, a 20-year-old Delhi student, says, 'I have been helping my mom since my teens, so I know the kitchen well. I cook for myself every evening—it's muscle memory.' Sudeep Ghosla, a 40-year-old professional, adds, 'When I was young, I only knew basic spices. Living alone expanded my knowledge.'
However, women often feel the load is unequal. Swati Khuranna, 23, from Puducherry, notes, 'I cook most days. My partner cooks on weekends. He learned to make dal tadka exactly like me but never aloo parathas because he 'can't knead dough.' Why should only I do it?'
Impact of Gender Expectations
Mothers remain the backbone of home kitchens. Sudeep observes, 'Cooking is seen as my mother's core role. She takes pride in it. My father made morning tea, and my grandfather did the same for my grandmother. But the expectation of cooking is assigned to females.'
Praise for cooking is often gendered. Dildar says, 'I get praised for cooking; my mom brags about me. But when I make basic tea for guests, they tell my mother her son is the best.' Rio, a 25-year-old gender-fluid person from Delhi, shares, 'I am not praised for cooking because it's my obligation. If my brother cooks, it's 'See! Your brother is cooking!' That has given me trauma.'
Professional Kitchens: Chef vs Cook
The dynamic shifts in professional settings. Dildar explains, 'A chef is a title earned after moving up ranks—the boss of the kitchen. A cook prepares food but lacks authority. All chefs are cooks, but not all cooks are chefs.' Farha Naaz, chef and founder of Mamazaki, recalls, 'A male line cook kept calling me 'sister' in Assamese while calling every male leader 'chef.' By the end, those same cooks thanked me for what they learned.' She adds, 'When cooking is unpaid, it's a woman's duty. When it becomes a paid, high-status profession, it's dominated by male chefs.'
What Readers Should Know
Domestic workers, mostly women, face triple exploitation based on gender, class, and caste. An estimated 20-80 million people work as domestic help in India, with 80% being women. Some earn as low as ₹1,000 per household for 12-hour days, often in slavery-like conditions.
FAQ
What percentage of married women decide daily meals in India?
According to the National Family Health Survey-5, approximately 84% of married women decide what is cooked daily.
How much time do women and men spend on unpaid household labour in India?
A 2024 report noted women spend 140 minutes per day on household care, compared to 74 minutes for men.
What is the difference between a chef and a cook?
A chef is a professional title earned after rising through ranks, managing a kitchen team. A cook prepares food but may lack that authority. All chefs are cooks, but not all cooks are chefs.