Being the Carer in the Household: A Study on the Role of Gender in Care Narratives

The word ‘Carer’ is mostly associated with a woman and an image that pop up in one’s mind while reading its definition. It has been socially constructed that nurturing a child, nursing the sick and caring for the needy are all the responsibilities and works of women. Men rarely engage in such aforementioned activities. The gender role and tasks assigned to the gender are obstacles for the empowerment and development of women. The role of being a carer in a household consumes much time and is energy draining, physically, mentally and emotionally. Sacrifice, tolerance, responsibility and kindness are all the qualities that are mainly associated with the carer’s role. Texts like Diane Broeckhoven’s A Day with Mr. Julesand Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie talk about this issue. The paper deals with the aspects in the gender role that act as hindrances in women’s pathway to success. The discussed texts bring in discourse about the division of labour and de-naturalizing the constructed gender roles in the society. The article presents the relationship among gender roles, caregiving and carer’s quality of life and it also brings to attention a different aspect of gender studies.