My earliest male role model is my dad. From my childhood, I have seen both my parents working professionally and sharing equal responsibilities in household chores. It seemed like the norm to me growing up. However, when I reached college or university, I noticed that people were surprised every time I mentioned that my dad cooks and involves in house chores. Many thought he was different and special, and this was something to be proud of. It struck me as strange that people found it so exceptional, given that I grew up thinking it was the way things were supposed to be.

I soon realized that, especially in my parents’ generation, the traditional division between men handling work and financial responsibilities, and women managing the household, was very strong. In recent years, there has been a positive shift, with a significant number of women actively engaging in professional work and sharing financial responsibilities with men, thereby lightening the load on men. Unfortunately, a parallel trend hasn’t emerged regarding the sharing of household responsibilities by men. Women still predominantly shoulder childcare and household duties alongside their careers. Now, we have a generation of women juggling both career and domestic work, and this is in every part of the world and across various cultures.

Domestic responsibility extends beyond just helping with cutting vegetables or buying groceries. It includes a fair share of all household chores, childcare, active engagement in cognitive labor such as tracking, planning, and organizing family needs and activities, and contributing to making the endless lists of groceries, children’s school requirements, medicines, etc., while also supporting each other’s career growth equally. When men genuinely contribute to an equal partnership at home, it accelerates gender equality in the workplace.

Importantly, when men share domestic responsibilities, they role model equity for their children, making it seem normal and conveying a message of partnership. That’s the message my dad gave me, and honestly, he wasn’t trying to set an example; it’s just an integral part of who he is. I am grateful that he was the man I had around while growing up. When seeking a life partner, I naturally gravitated towards someone with a similar attitude. My partner shares household responsibilities equally and supports my career growth. While I am grateful for this, neither of us deems it as special or praiseworthy.

Do I think things are changing? Yes, but it’s happening too slowly. We can accelerate change with more progressive men around us. I eagerly look forward to a world where International Women’s Day becomes irrelevant, as equality and shared responsibilities become the norm, across all domains. Until then, Happy International Women’s Day!