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From 1950s To 2000s: A Comparison Of Gender Roles Through Bollywood
The 1955 Good House Wife's Guide reveals the set of rules followed by couples and families back in the day. We show you six examples from Indian cinema that make us wonder about the many interesting and evolving lifestyle trends over time.
1. Cooking
Then: Cooking was part of woman's work portfolio. The old proverb "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach" explains the emphasis on women to prepare food. The clip from 1950s film Dilruba shows a pleased Dev Anand at the prospect of Rehana cooking for him.
Now: There are no set rules on who cooks. Men cooking for women is as romantic as vice versa. Watch Ranbir Kapoor prepare food and set up the place for Konkana Sen Sharma in the film Wake Up Sid.
2. Dressing Up
Then: Women would dress to look good to earn a man's love. His happiness came before hers and to achieve that was her sole focus. This yesteryear song from film Saudagar embodies the sentiment quite well with the lyrics, "Sajna hai mujhe sajna ke liye."
Now: The modern woman lives for herself instead of vying for a man's approval. Katrina Kaif plays Sheila, asserting "Kisi aur ki mujh ko zaroorat kya, mei to khud se pyar jataoon."
3. Doing House Chores
Then: The man was strict with the woman regarding tidiness and order in the house. Though in jest, Sanjeev Kumar conveys the housewife's responsibilities to Vidya Sinha, as was the precedent once.
Now: Clutter is always going to be a problem. The modern man does not appear to share the same priorities though. Watch this domestic bickering between Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji from the film Chalte Chalte.
4. Being Single
Then: Women did not fancy being single and eagerly wished for a man to be with them for good. The song lyrics "Saiyan dil mei aana re, Aa ke phir na jana re" signify the depth of desire and insecurity felt by women.
Now: The independent woman is here. The song picturised on Kangana Ranaut in the film Queen imparts the idea of being a whole in oneself, "Khud hi to hain hum kinare."
5. Having A Profession
Then: Women did not pursue a profession and when they did, it was often not on equal footing. In the clip from film Abhimaan, Jaya Bahaduri demonstrates the spirit of sacrifice to pacify her husband, who she can sense is insecure because of her growing success.
Now: Women of today are equally inclined to have a career as men. Preity ZInta is vocal and does not let her achievements slide in the film Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, a sharp contrast to Jaya's demure personality.
6. Looking After Children
Then: Mothers were fully in charge of looking after children. Take a look at this tribute to a mother, played by Nirupa Roy.
Now: Fathers can also be the caretakers. Enjoy the delightful song "Oh I Love You Daddy" from the film Akele Hum Akele Tum where Aamir Khan plays the single dad after separating from his wife.
What do you think of the diverse gender roles in today's society? Share your comments below.
Main Image Photo Credit (L-R): www.huffingtonpost.com and www.dailymail.co.uk
Sonia Malik
Author
Sonia writes on current affairs and pop culture. An English graduate from the University of Toronto, she identifies as a global citizen, feminist and nature lover. She will be ready to shake a leg to a peppy Bollywood beat any day.
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