10 Things We Wish Could Be Normalised In Indian Families

Progressive Indian families are the need of the hour. The pressure and extreme judgement from our own family are making us suffer and we don't want to pass on this toxic way of living to our future generations.

Family is an inseparable part of anyone's life and it holds an undeniable influence on a person. It is not a new fact that some families can be toxic and can negatively influence the people part of it. From dividing workload based on gender to following and promoting age-old beliefs, everything begins at home. In Indian families, we see a lot of restrictions and judgement that have been passed down to generations. Here's a look at what progressive Indian families can look like.

Progressive Indian Families: 10 Things We Wish Could Be Normalised

Sexual And Mental Health Conversation

There should be meaningful and comfortable talk between parents and children regarding safe sex and sex education. It is not wrong to discuss such things as these are important decisions and aspects of life that everyone should be aware of. Instead of learning from unreliable sources or making inevitable mistakes, it is better to teach children beforehand. Parents should also stop considering mental health as trivial. Understanding your child's insecurities and dilemmas and putting efforts to eradicate them can save them from anxiety and depression.

Men not staying away from kitchen

Women are not born to serve men. Cooking is a life skill and everyone should know it. It should be normal for men to cook food and share the workload in the house as it is not just the duty of women. Everybody lives in the house and everybody should contribute in daily work. Also, we should stop glorifying men for doing normal things such as cooking and washing. Women do it every single day and yet it goes unnoticed. It is not a great thing to wash your own dirty clothes.

Not Comparing Kids 

In Indian families, we see that children are very often compared to other children of their age in studies and extra-curricular. Comparison with others make children less confident and insecure with their own self. Parents should understand that every child is unique and instead of comparing them with others, they should spend some time to explore and analyse their talents. You cannot force them to do things they are not meant to. Instead let them do things that they are good in and love to do.

All identities are accepted

There are very few progressive Indian families that we see around us. One of the important aspect of calling a family progressive is when they are comfortable with their children's gender and sexual identities. Homophobia is a grave issue in India and families are one of the many places it begins with. If parents will support their children and be comfortable with how they identify themselves, it will help children have good mental health and be unapologetic for their decisions.

Body Positivity Conversations

We often see fat and thin, dark and coloured people being body shamed which causes anxiety, insecurity and depression in individuals. Learning to be comfortable in your skin begins at home. Parents should teach their kids to love themselves the way they are and never give in to people who try to shame them for their identity. Family's support can bring great changes in the mentality of individuals who deal with body positivity issues.

Letting Kids Pursue Their Choice Of Career

Indian families are obsessed with their children's career and they decide it for them since before they are born. The only jobs that are considered honourable are doctor, engineer, teacher or government jobs. Parents should know that there are many other career choices in the world and that their child deserves to do what he/she loves. Forcing them to do something they don't like will only end up in failure or regrets in future. Parents should have faith in their children and let them decide what they want to do with their future.

Parents Respecting Children's Privacy

Privacy is not a thing in most Indian households. Your phone, laptop, life, decisions, room etc., nothing is ever private. Privacy equals to troubles in Indian families as it promotes independent and rebel behaviour in children. Why is it that everyone has to know what the child is doing right now? It is important to know that children also have a life outside their homes and not everything needs to be shared. It is their choice what and to what extent they are comfortable to share and parents should be understanding about it.

Parent's Supporting Their Children's Choice Of Partner

Whether arranged or love, let your children decide what kind of a life partner they want. They have to spend their entire life with them and it is better that they decide to stay with the one they want. Indian families love fixing arranged marriages to unknown people and judging love marriages to extreme extent. Parents should have faith in their children's choices and know that it is their right to know and choose the person they are to share their everything in future.

Conversation About Toxic Marriages

Indian families are often seen neglecting the toxicities of a marriage. Parents fear that a divorce will be a shame to the family. What they don't know is that the bid to save the honour of the family can cost their children their lives. It is okay to feel that you cannot spend anymore time with your partner. Separation for the sake of safety, sexual, physical and mental health should be a normal thing in 2022.

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