I was married by the age of 26. Ours was a love marriage. At that age I exactly did not have a long checklist for the ideal boyfriend or a husband. All I knew was that I wanted a partner who would love and respect me, who would treat me his equal, someone who wouldn’t object to my career and of course “NO DOWRY”.
During our courtship, he always encouraged my work and guided me in my career. Not for a moment did I feel that he was sexist or behaved like he was superior to me in any sense. Today when we hear so much about physical abuse, domestic violence, dowry cases and so on I was blessed to have a partner who treated me his equal or should I say a “SUPERWOMAN“.
Yes. He thought I was a SUPERWOMAN!
He truly believed there is nothing that today’s woman cannot do. They can so well manage a work life balance. After slogging at the office every night I prepare dinner and I have had my bad days at cooking. Not a single day does he complain about the uncooked or burnt meal. Most days when I asked him to take a turn on cooking he flatters me by taking me out for dinner. He completely understands how much I needed that break from the kitchen.
Yes. He is a FEMINIST!
He is so proud that he can call his wife an equal because she does not wait for the husband to pay the electricity bill or book the gas or wait for him to arrange the electrician or plumber. She can clean the cobwebs from the ceiling and changes the bulb. She does not need a man to do that. He feels lucky to have her as his wife when she comes back from the office and takes charge of the child’s studies while preparing the dinner and handling the calls from the office. Oh only if she had that superhero cape!!
He has no qualms about putting the TV on mute and lending his ears to her rants about her workplace on occasional days. Because communication is the key. Well, all other days television is his best friend while she is carrying out the superwoman act.
Yes. He believes in Woman Empowerment!!
He wants her to learn driving because the 21st-century woman can do everything … umm well also so that he could relax from the pickup and drop duties. He truly believes that his wife can shape laddoos as well as put up the fairy lights on Diwali (after 3 days of follow up). There are no gender-specific roles. She can change the gas, go grocery shopping, wait in the queue to pay the taxes because she is empowered.
Oh! I am happy because my husband is a feminist.
Oops! And did I forget to mention he sometimes ties my shoelace in public too? And I acknowledge his chivalry by putting up a picture of the same on social media. (Pun intended).