Australians' Reflections on Life in India: A Look at Domestic Help and Work-Life Balance
"Australian Woman Complains: Indian Workers Lack Balance Between Work and Personal Life, Citing Late-Night Calls"
Bree Steele, an Australian podcast producer living in India since 2023, recently took to Instagram to share her observations on life in India and the prominent use of domestic help for cooking and cleaning. Steele notes that she's observed numerous Indian friends receiving work calls at the ungodly hour of 9.30 PM, which she believes contributes to the dependence on outside help for household chores.
According to Steele, the easy availability of affordable labor in India makes this reliance understandable. Westerners, she observes, typically balance full-time jobs with housework and chores. "I don't cook or clean in India," she remarks casually. "Most middle class to wealthy households in India have house help. Most people have someone who does their cleaning, maybe their washing and cooking."
Interestingly, Steele has a friend who claims it is impossible to handle all cooking and cleaning without domestic help. "I was like, that's what we do in the west. We do everything ourselves with full-time jobs."
It's worth noting, however, that Indian professionals tend to work far longer hours than their Western counterparts. This in turn affects work-life balance—a concept that seems elusive in the Indian context.
Social media, of course, has been abuzz with both agreement and dissent surrounding Steele's video. Some argue that the massive income inequality and high population proposed in the comments section are key factors, while others suggest that people in the West rely on pre-prepared or ready-to-cook meals rather than taking the time and effort to cook homemade meals themselves.
One Instagram user, who grew up in India and moved to the West, offers their own perspective: "Despite the chores, I still have a lot of spare time that I spend on my hobbies and health. Despite all the help in India, I lived an unhealthy and tired life."
Some users even remark on the difference in cleanliness standards between India and the West, noting that floors in India often require mopping daily, unlike Western homes.
All in all, the video ignited a thoughtful discussion on the contrasts between India and the West, as well as the complex web of cultural norms, economic factors, and work-life dynamics that shape them.
- Bree Steele, an Australian podcast producer, has been living in India since 2023 and has observed the prevalent use of domestic help for cooking and cleaning.
- Steele notes that she herself doesn't cook or clean in India, and that many middle-class to wealthy households employ help for cleaning, washing, and cooking.
- Steele's friend claims it's impossible to handle all cooking and cleaning without domestic help, a statement that Steele finds surprising, as she believes this is common practice in the West.
- Indian professionals often work longer hours than their Western counterparts, which impacts work-life balance, a concept that appears elusive in the Indian context.
- Social media reactions to Steele's video have been diverse, with some linking income inequality and high population as reasons for the reliance on domestic help, while others suggest that Westerners rely on pre-prepared meals.
- An Instagram user, who grew up in India and moved to the West, shared their perspective, noting that despite having help, they lived an unhealthy and tired life in India.
- Some users pointed out the difference in cleanliness standards, stating that floors in India often need daily mopping, unlike Western homes.
- The discussion sparked by Steele's video highlights the contrasts between India and the West, as well as the cultural, economic, and work-life factors that influence them.
- Steele's observations extend to the realm of business, where she believes the affordable labor in India allows for businesses to thrive, resulting in a vibrant fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, travel, cars, education-and-self-development, personal-growth, shopping, and career-development sectors.
- The influence of domestic help doesn't just stop at chores, as it also affects relationships and pet care, with some households having professionals take care of their pets while they work.
- Despite the unfeasibility of balancing work, chores, and a healthy lifestyle in India for some, many still find time for sports, leisure activities, and personal growth, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of the Indian population.
