Women of Three Generations: Life Style of Middle-Class Urban Women – An Analysis*

The present article is based on the observations, discussions with people and literature review of middle class, middle aged women belonging to three generations.

The main objective of the article is to analyse life style, conditions and factors that have been affecting women's life during their young and middle age like Social, environmental, industrialisation, modernisation and economic conditions . Earlier, Middle and Present; terms are used for the women of three generations (Earlier those born around 1920s, Middle born around 1960s and present born around 1980s). Various aspects have been discussed in the following paragraphs;

Various aspects have been discussed below:

1. Basic Education and Professional Training

Earlier due lack of facilities social and economic factors ,not much importance was given to education of children particularly of daughters . Girls from the early age mainly used to stay at home and help their mothers in household chorus. But in some families, girls were given tuitions at their homes only. Those families, who could afford and had schools facilities nearby, provided formal education to children particularly to boys. In those families girls attained primary or middle education .Few exceptions were there, where women had graduated also got technical training and entered in the profession of teaching and welfare like rural development , adult education other related fields. During middle era, due to economic upliftment, developed infrastructure for education, social factors and favourable government policies, more importance was given to education of children. Graduation was a qualification that many women had acquired. Technical training were also done. Women entered in teaching , banking , administration , typing and stenography , insurance , food departments , post offices , telephone exchange, railways , services , medical and paramedical, Dietetics / nutrition , nursing and many others. Teaching was a preferred job. During this period some women also became doctors, engineers, and fashion designers . Permanent jobs in government were preferred to ensure regular income. The third group … girls born around 1980s, who are now middle aged women were given best education as per the family’s financial conditions, their own interests and capacity of girls. Whatever was possible in terms of money, facilities, efforts, time, comforts, was provided to children. Girls acquired higher education. Many are doctors , engineers , business administrators( MBA ), IAS / IPS , Scientists , professors/ teachers , dieticians and nutritionists , fashion designers, now many are in private jobs. Some are also doing own business.

To conclude, present middle aged women have received more formal education and technical training.

2. Health and Related Issues

Health care facilities were not easily available during earlier period as there were not many medical Doctors , hospitals, / health care centres and dispensaries. Mainly ayurvedic , naturopathy and Unani treatment was given to patients. By middle time there was development in health infrastructure in cities and medical facilities were available to common man. There were more allopathic and ayurvedic doctors, Govt. and private run clinics ,dispensaries and hospitals , Health Insurances were also started at this time and those who were in jobs also had some fund provision for this purpose. As women were more educated and aware then previous time they were conscious of their health, availed these facilities but there were cases where women’s health was not given importance / priority at homes. Present middle aged women have enough knowledge about nutrition and health , they get latest information through media ,discuss problems with friends , relatives and doctors . They are financially better off and try to avail all health facilities. But many of them suffer from life style related diseases.

3. Household Work and Physical Activities

Earlier, responsibility of doing household work mainly lied on women (household management) They used to do clothes washing (even bed linen ,furnishings ) , cooking , cleaning utensils , washing and drying cereals , cleaning and grinding spices, cleaning homes , fetching water from water bodies (in families who did not had support). Other household activities that many ladies used to do preparing jam and jellies, pickles, papad , snacks like namkeen (savory Indian snack .. dry mixture ), cookies and biscuits etc, Drying vegetables and fruits for the coming seasons when fresh ones were not available. Food was cooked on coal / wood, cow dung cakes and later on kerosene and gas was used. seasonal cleaning of whole house and white wash also done by them. Sometimes stitching on sewing machines and knitting was also done. So most of the work was done by women with exception where help was available. Work was shared in joint family system. Different types of physical activities were done by women. Middle period women were better in terms of facilities. Many of them had help for household cleaning, washing utensils and clothes. Some labour saving cooking devices like pressure cooker were also available. They were also physically active at homes as well as outside as compared to present generation. Middle period women who were working outside had to travel distances to reach work place, or to take public transport. Physical activity of third generation at homes has reduced, as many labour saving devices are available. Now gadgets like cooking range, oven, microwave, electric kettle, refrigerators, are available. Cooking can be done for many days and kept in fridge. Helpers for cooking and other household tasks are also available. Those going outside ,have easy transport facility .To remain fit many of them go outside for walks in parks , join gym, do yoga and dance classes and also do physical exercises at homes.

4. Clothes and Personal Belongings

Earlier many women did not have too many clothes due to less outing, non-availability or non-affordability. Many used to share their special / expensive clothes jewellery and accessories with their relatives and close friends. Renovation mending, recycling, reuse in other forms was quite common. Clothes and expensive jewellery was used at important occasions, put safely for many years and that was passed from one generation to other. Middle era women had more clothes then previous ones, as affordability, availability and requirement was increased. Many women were working outside, social visits had increased. Also started going for shopping themselves. Now a days, there is easy availability, affordability and enhanced purchasing power. Use and throw culture of things is common. Now women have sufficient clothes and accessories. Those who can afford, buy branded things, and it has become a fashion and is a status symbol. Now there is no fixed time for shopping. Any day, any time, online, retails and other forms are used.

5. Dressing and Beauty Care

Homemade items were used as beauty products. Women used to do beauty treatment either themselves or take help of other women friends and relatives. Costumes and dresses used to be mainly traditional. During middle time, beauty items available in market were used. Women also used services of beauty salon/ parlours that started operating in many cities. Clothes were as per latest trends and fashion of that time. Presently latest clothes (both western and Indian) are worn. Unlimited brands of beauty products available in market are used. Visiting parlour has also become a regular feature of many.

6. Eating Patterns

Previously, usually two or three major meals were eaten that comprised of mainly cereals, pulses and some vegetables and fruits by vegetarians and meat, eggs,fish and other sea foods by non vegetarians depending upon the region. (During middle period) in many families number of meals had increased. Day snacks were also eaten in between the main meals. Consumption of tea/ coffee had increased as compared to earlier times. Now in some cases, there is no fixed time of eating. One of the reasons may be changing life style, changing working conditions and timings’ of each member . In few families there is reduced consumption of home made fresh food and taste for outside food is increasing. Fast food, home delivery of food, Ready to eat food and eating outside home is common. This is adversely affecting health of people including women. Affordability and availability of outside food items has increased.

7. Marital Status and Family Structure

Marriage and family life has been important earlier as well as now. Previously children were born from the early age, as marriages were solemnised at the young age. Usually three to four children were preferred. Middle time, Two to three children were preferred in educated families. Previously women adjusted and tolerated a lot due to societal pressure put for the sake of children and were not encouraged to separate. But now separation, divorce is also becoming common. This can be due to various factors like women are more aware, confident, educated, independent, and less tolerant to insult, humiliation and want to come out from unpleasant environment. Now late marriages are common and children are also born at later age. Families prefer to have one or two children and some couples don’t want to have children.

8. Outings, Travel, and Tours

Finances , transport , inadequate knowledge about places , safety , company of people ,social restrictions and infrastructure were main constraints for tours and travelling in earlier times . Women used to travel with their family members, close relatives and in community groups. Outings , included visits to religious places / tourist spots as per the culture and traditions of families and some other cities but in limited way as compared to mid and present period .In mid period those who could afford and had interest used to travel to different places with immediate and extended family, friends groups and with colleagues( those in service ). Now travelling by women is more frequent write in groups / alone. They can afford, have exposure and interest, improved infrastructure, facilities of tour operators etc. Also visit their children who are settled in other cities and abroad frequently.

9. Decision Making

Earlier and middle aged women usually didn’t have major say in family decision making process . But now women take equal part in all the decisions of family and sometimes they take lead .

10. Finances, Purchasing Power, and Assets

Previously males were the earning members in family. In Joint families system, money control usually was with the males, mostly head of the family. That time expenditure was broadly on basic food, shelter, medical, education (depending upon families and facilities) and some savings for the future of children like Marriage of girls. Clothes were purchased on occasions like festivals, marriages or whenever needed. Young women of joint families usually didn’t have much control over money. Sometimes women were financially and otherwise helped by their parents sides .As women have been saving oriented from the beginning, Sometime women used to keep money secretly in their possessions. Some also used to keep money with their trusted close relatives and friends for their future security and for emergencies. Middle time women were slightly better as compared to earlier Ones.

In Present times, mostly young, middle aged women have better purchasing power particularly those who are earning themselves and have not much compulsion of savings( if all other things are taken care of like own house and other assets ). Loans, if required are also taken from banks. Many save in the forms of shares, Insurances, bonds and fixed deposits. Earlier properties were usually in the names of head of the family or in joint names of extended family members. Middle time, usually in the names of men and sometimes jointly with wife. And now some women also keep independent bank accounts and properties, depending upon their financial status.

11. Information and Communication

Modes of communication with distant relatives included letters, telegrams or through some Massager. Daily /latest information was available to those who could afford newspaper and who had radio / transistors. In-depth communication was there whenever people used to meet personally. When facility of land line phones reached put middle class, women used this medium to talk to their parents, relatives and friends. People who had Radio and Television were also able to get latest information. Initially news/ programmes were telecast at fixed time, which entire family used to watch together. Medium period ones were lucky to use both mobiles and land lines. Now unlimited modes of communication and information avenues are available; Mobile, internet, radio, Television and social media. Radio is a common source of information and entertainment in all the three groups and is still very popular.

12. Entertainment and Passing Free Time

Previously entertainment included household traditional games , singing , folk music and dance ,listening radio programmes , meeting and talking to other nearby women. In joint families, people used to be busy themselves in talking , gossiping, discussing . Sometimes theatre, Natak and plays and movies etc. were also watched wherever facilities were available. At the middle time outside entertainment included going to movies, theatre, melas / fetes, markets, ladies groups meeting depending upon the area, community and resources. Now unlimited ways of entertainment for women are there. Movies in theatres and on television, Ott programmes, visiting markets and malls, reading, internet and other social media , besides sports, club ,etc and social groups.

13. Social Life

Earlier, social life of women usually comprised of occasional visits to relatives, participating in marriages, functions and auspicious occasions of other relatives and friends. In some cases regular meetings with friends near water bodies and visiting religious places was there. As per Indian traditions, married women would occasionally visit their parents’ home and stay there for some time, a practice commonly followed in earlier times. During middle period, women visited homes of their parents, wherever possible but were not as frequent and as long. The main reasons were some women started working outside so had less time ,their own family problems , distances , financial constraints , inconvenience and adjustability and sometimes were not welcomed in parents' house. Now this trend has further decreased and married women, though they are regularly in touch with their parental side through mobiles. Today some urban women’s social life also includes kitty parties, meeting in women's and association groups, visiting other relatives and friends places. Now those who want, have unlimited ways of enjoying social life.

14. Family Care, Religious Activities, and Social Work

Women of all the generations have been taking care of children ,other family members, aged and ill relatives. Earlier physical and mental load on women was more due to economic constraints and nonavailability of trained help . Women of earlier and middle period used to do a lot of physical work at home, in various functions , and rituals . Presently many tasks are outsourced.

Earlier people voluntarily helped needy relatives, friends and other people in whatever little way they could do. Arrange and organise marriages and education. Personal expensive possessions were also shared wherever possible. Religious social activities were common. Service for the upliftment of their community was important for many. During mid time overall financial conditions of people was improved and many women continue to do these activities. Now besides these, women who have bent of mind towards social cause give their services in voluntary organisations / welfare organisations like old age homes , schools, and also do charity ( financial and other things ). Feeding poor and needy is a service always practiced by women.

15. Facilities at Home

Earlier not much comfort and convenience facilities were there. Women faced a number of hard ships and difficulties to run the house. Women's life become easier from middle period onwards when electric gadgets like fans , coolers and air conditioners came but that time everyone could not afford. Now besides these Equipments , washing machines , heater / blowers , guessers ,air purifiers, microwave/ grillers, ovens, fridge, cooking gas, hot plates are in almost all the middle class homes. That has made life more easy and comfortable from them.

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*Nirmal Tikku, ex Deputy Director, SPNIWCD (earlier NIPCCD), New Delhi, November' 25