Office Space Like Kitchen For Women To Feel Relaxed? Why?

Every year, March brings back the focus on women and their status in society. Observed as International Women's Day, March 8 is the day when brands go all out trying to position themselves as the greatest supporters of gender equality. Many offices are seen celebrating the day by cutting cakes, distributing snacks and even gifts. This year too was no different.

Some brand campaigns caught the attention of women and men by delivering powerful messages. Office spaces too were decorated on the special occasion and Instagram feeds were flooded with pictures of female employees standing in groups posing for the camera. However, how someone celebrates the day can also tell a lot about what they think of its significance.

The Bangalore City Police Commissioner's office worked hard for Women's day. They literally turned things around to make women more relaxed and comfortable at the workplace. Only if they had got it right, it would have been the highlight of International Women's Day 2022. Bangalore Smart City Limited tweeted that they renovated the office lounge space so it looks like a kitchen. The organisation proudly shared it on Twitter saying, "created office space like a kitchen for women to feel relaxed in-office."

It's a shame how the renovators and the office administration thought women employees can only relax in a kitchen space. As if all they ever think about when in the office is their kitchen. "Oh how I would love to melt my face off near a stove than write these reports on my office computer, " said no woman ever. The picture of the office lounge space was tweeted by Bangalore Smart City Limited's official handle and after much outrage on social media, it was deleted. It cannot be said if the lounge resembles more of a regular pantry or a kitchen space just for women employees. Many users pointed out that the fault might have been in the tweet made by Bangalore Smart City which tried to promote themselves on women's day carelessly. See here. One of the pictures shared of the office space had a placard which called the space "Women's Lounge". 

Bangalore Smart City Limited Draws Flak

The Police Commissioner's office in Bangalore smart city was not the only one reducing women empowerment to kitchen walls and utensils. A well-known e-commerce platform started a similar fire possibly thinking that giving discounts on kitchen appliances will be the greatest gift to women on women's day. Even if the brand must have had pleased a section of women who were just waiting for the prices to drop to grab that specific microwave but the overall message behind the discount was problematic.

Suggested Reading: Kitchen Shouldn’t Be The Only Place Women Are Allowed To Take Decisions

Why choose women's day to drop the prices on kitchen appliances? Why not something that reminds women that their world is not limited to the kitchen? Something that reminds them of the possibilities is endless and they could choose whatever height they want to reach. Maybe a women-only discount on all items would have worked better where women can avail discounts on even a gameboard.

"Celebrating" International Women's Day by creating kitchen spaces for women at the office and making it easier for women to buy kitchen appliances is simply a way to reiterate that women belong in the kitchen. It is a shame that in 2022 we are still fighting this stereotype when women have pretty much gone into every field possible. There is a possibility that women might have been in those rooms where such bad ideas of celebrating women's day were introduced. Or is it because women still have to grab their chairs in such rooms and raise their hands to disagree and say, "Let's think of something out of the kitchen."

Views expressed are the author's own. 

*SheThePeople has reached out to Bangalore Smart City Limited. The story will be updated on the basis of their response.