Woman Goes On Cleaning Strike: It Is A Reminder To Not Take Homemakers For Granted

The latest video of a Connecticut woman going on strike after her husband accused her of doing "nothing around the house" has been going viral on TikTok. The video has reached over 12 million views.

The woman is identified as Lindsay Donnelly, 33, stopped doing literally anything around the house following her spouse’s accusation. She didn’t make the bed or rinse even a single dish. She posted videos showing the laundry piled up on the couch and the dining table littered with dirty utensils, toys, mail, and towels scattered across the bathroom floor.

After filming and posting this clip with Taylor Swift’s Karma playing in the background, Donnelly went away on a girl’s weekend trip, leaving the messy house as it was.

Woman On Cleaning Strike

According to an exclusive interview with Today.com, Donnelly and her husband are both working, and the couple had two children, ages 7 and 4. Donnelly shared that her spouse, Brian, 33, does "the majority of the cooking," and they ensure they divide the household chores evenly.

Donnelly recalled that one night when she was getting the kids ready for bed, Brain was grumpy, and he made a comment about her doing nothing around the house. Instead of fighting about it, she wanted to prove her point in a funny way and went on strike. Donnelly said that the house was "spick-and-span" when she returned from her weekend trip, and her husband had apologised.

While this couple seemed to have sorted it out pretty well, let’s look at this situation in an Indian context where women’s primary role is perceived to be performing domestic chores and childcare. Most women would have heard this statement at some point or on a regular basis, especially if they are stay-at-home moms. Let’s be realistic and admit that we never acknowledge women for their unparalleled contribution to household chores. We are neither helpful nor grateful to them.

Let's Stop Taking Homemakers For Granted!

I’ve personally been very averse to the term "housewife" and always preferred "homemaker." They deserve it because they make a house a home! Without them, I would bet most of our homes would turn into warzones, just like Donnelly’s videos. How many of us have been in a bewildered situation when our mothers stayed out for more than a day? Many of us would have made a bigger mess of the house in the name of cooking and cleaning, which are basic survival skills.

And yet, we take homemakers for granted because that’s what we’ve been taught. We’ve been ingrained with the belief that mothers, whether they have a profession or not, are responsible for performing household chores and being the primary caregivers. It’s mandatory for women because patriarchy has imposed gender roles in society. They work tirelessly without any monetary benefit, holiday, or even a break. When was the last time any of us saw our mothers taking some me-time? Isn't that basic?

We are so used to taking them for granted, and it’s about time we get over whatever patriarchal mindset is ingrained in us. We need to start recognising every minute contribution that the homemakers in our families make. They don’t expect anything from us except a little support, understanding, and an equal contribution.

It’s never the case that these women aren’t doing enough. They are human beings too, and they are probably burning out. So it’s high time that we start supporting them and contributing equally to the domestic chores instead of criticising them for not doing enough. And let’s also stand up for them when someone else is pointing a finger at them. It could have been the norm so far, but the current generation is the cycle breaker, so let’s just do that.

Suggested Reading: We Asked Homemakers What They Wish For On Women’s Day: This Is What They Said

Image Credits: Today.com

Views expressed by the author are their own