Do Homemakers Need to Be Paid For Their Work?

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Actor Kamal Haasan has now forayed into politics after floating his political party Makkal Needhi Maiam’s (MNM). A couple of days back when releasing the party’s portfolio Haasan promised payment to homemakers — along with computers with high-speed internet to all households and transformation of farmers to agri-entrepreneurs — if his party is voted to power in the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor supported this proposal of paying homemakers and took to Twitter to hail this initiative

“I welcome @ikamalhaasan’s idea of recognising housework as a salaried profession, w/the state government paying a monthly wage to homemakers. This will recognise and monetise the services of women homemakers in society, enhance their power and autonomy and create near-universal basic income.”

A New Concept

This is a very new concept that hasn’t been talked about much in our society. It brought many questions to my mind – How? Is it even possible? Is it right?

A picture that had gone viral a few months back on being on the cover of cover of Kerala’s Gender Budget 2020 flashed through my mind. It was a painting by a 10-year artist, Anujath Sindhu Vinaylal showing the daily chores of his mother and the mothers in his neighbourhood.

A homemaker, especially in a patriarchal society like ours, takes care of so many things around the house. She is considered the primary responsible person for cooking, cleaning, shopping, caring for the elders, her kids’ upbringing, her husband’s needs and happiness. The list is endless.

Most of the time, all these responsibilities aren’t officially handed over to or taken up voluntarily by the woman. It is almost an unsaid understanding that the moment a woman gets married into the family, these tasks just become her duty. The expectations are obviously way higher if the woman does not have a profession and does not go out to work.

If you don’t realize your worth, no one else will

The fact remains that for most of the homemakers, life is not very easy. Earning money is still considered the most important contribution to the functioning of a family. This thought shapes the way the family and the society views the role of a homemaker – as secondary and less important compared to the one who “provides” for the family. There is very minimal to no acceptance or acknowledgement of the time and effort a homemaker puts in to make lives smoother to all around her.

Infact, a homemaker has to prove her worth by playing several roles and taking up several responsibilities. It would not be very surprising to hear, ‘Ghar par hi tho thi poore din’, being said to her, in case she voices her fatigue after a day’s work occasionally. But what is most disheartening is that many times the woman herself does not value the hard work she puts in and plays down her role in the family.

Love can’t be measured with money

Shashi Tharoor’s tweet in support of homemakers getting paid drew reaction from many people. One of the notable reactions came from actress Kangana Ranaut, who is fiercely independent and known to speak her mind.

Replying to Shashi Tharoor’s tweet, Kangana said, “Don’t put a price tag on sex we have with our love, don’t pay us for mothering our own, we don’t need salary for being the Queens of our own little kingdom our home, stop seeing everything as business. Surrender to your woman she needs all of you not just your love/respect/salary.”

A woman has been blessed to be affectionate, caring, and sacrificing. A mother’s love is incomparable to anything else. When we talk about paying homemakers, are we guilty of trying to put a price on all these emotions. Is it even possible to appraise all the small and big things a homemaker does through the day? It does not even seem possible to imagine a homemaker doing her chores for the money, and not the love and care for the family.

What’s right, what’s wrong? Is there even a right or a wrong?

We may have several other questions in our minds regarding this –

Will getting paid for house work give it the same level of dignity as any other salaried job?

Will it help reduce the sense of patriarchy that we see around us?

Will it help a woman feel more worthy of herself?

Is money the ideal way to acknowledge and appreciate a homemaker’s efforts?

Will we ever become a society where a homemaker can proudly say – ‘I am a homemaker’?

Let this be a start for us to do some thinking. There may be many opinions and many suggestions. But there should be no doubt that homemakers need to be celebrated for all that they do. Homemakers play as much an important role in society as others and it is about time we acknowledge this. What would be the ideal way to do this – give them respect and acknowledgement or payment or both? That’s still up for discussion.

Highlights

Acne-prone skin is one of the toughest skin types to care for. You have to put in extra effort when it comes to skincare or makeup.

It is one of the most common problems that people encounter nowadays and, therefore, there is an abundance of products catering to people’s needs.

Here is a list of nine products that work best for acne along with a few points that should be kept in mind before buying products for acne-prone skin.

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Acne-prone skin is one of the toughest skin types to care for. You have to put in extra effort when it comes to skincare or makeup. From diet to hormones to stress and even genetics can contribute to acne breakouts. It is one of the most common problems that people encounter nowadays and, therefore, there is an abundance of products catering to people’s needs.

Before we give you a list of nine products that work best for acne, let’s look at a few points that should be kept in mind before buying products for acne-prone skin types.

Quality- There should never be any compromise in terms of quality when skin care is concerned. Ensuring that the products are dermatologically approved and clinically tested is very necessary.

Ingredients– Ingredients play a very important role when dealing with acne-prone skin. Skin can be easily damaged by harsh and chemical ingredients. Therefore, it is always advised to use products with mild and gentle ingredients that are soothing for the skin. Products with parabens and alcohol should be absolutely avoided.

Exfoliation– Accumulation of dead skin also aids in increasing acne. Therefore, removing dead cells from the skin is a very important part of the skincare regime. Exfoliation is required to avoid dull and lifeless skin. Natural and mild exfoliants work best for acne-prone skin. Products that contain AHAs and BHAs can be used because they help in clearing dead skin cells and prevent acne.

Hydration And Moisturization– Excess oil production is one of the major causes of breaking out, but that does not mean that acne-prone skin shouldn’t be moisturized. Anything containing oils should be avoided; instead, water-based products containing Hyaluronic acid and glycerin will work best.

acne types — Types of acne on the skin or pimples illustration

Below is a list of products that are suitable for acne prone skin.

Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser– It is one of the best, dermatologically tested cleansers that is helpful for removing oil from a combination or blemished skin. The cleanser is completely non-fragrant that gently removes oil, dirt, and skin debris through its foaming action. It also helps the dry skin to rejuvenate. While removing impurities, it has no effect on the skin’s barrier and instead helps to keep it moisturized. It is designed to be used as an anti-aging medication that does not clog pores.

Himalaya face wash-With the goodness of neem, nimba, turmeric and haridra, Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash is enriched with unique qualities and herbal ingredients to treat acne on the skin and keep it healthy. It helps to remove excessive oil from the skin without making it very dry and dehydrated. It’s a good, trusted product that women have used for years, and it’s also very affordable.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Face Wash– Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Face Wash’s oil-free formula effectively gets to the deepest of pores and cleanses them. To prevent future inflammations, the Salicylic acid present in this Oil-Free Acne Face Wash soothingly removes all acne and pimples without dehydrating the skin. It’s gentle on the skin and does not cause any irritation.

Himalaya Herbals Gentle Exfoliating Walnut Scrub– People do feel a little hesitant to use scrubs on their face when it is already acne-prone. They fear that it will break them out because of its harsh particles. But this scrub is an answer to all the anxiety. It is enriched with natural ingredients like Wheat Germ Oil and Crab Apple that do not leave your skin feeling all dry ripped of any moisture, or irritable.

Dermalogica Active Moist– You got to try this if you are looking for a dermatologically tested moisturizer that does not irritate or overly mattify your acne-prone skin. This moisturizer contains ingredients like lavender, antioxidant-rich Cucumber Fruit with Silk Amino Acids, and Mallow that helps in soothing your skin, giving it an intensely hydrating experience without making it too oily. It applies easily and sheerly without feeling tacky on the skin. Also, as a bonus point, it is absolutely vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Mattifying Lotion– Tea Tree has been a holy grail for people who have been struggling with acne-prone skin. Its medicinal properties destroy acne-causing bacteria and help in reducing swelling and redness. The Body Shop has created this lightweight and clean formula using the properties of tea tree to cleanse pores, clear blemishes, and reduce sebum production. It is formulated to keep the skin feeling soft without any appearance of greasiness or oil on the skin. People who have tried it have loved it.

Kaya Ultra Light Aquagel Sunscreen SPF 25– It is one of the best sunscreens with SPF 25 for acne-prone skin that helps in protecting the skin from damaging UV rays without leaving the skin greasy or clogging the pores. It is a gel-based formula that does not leave a white cast while giving superior sun protection and a weightless matte finish.

Salicylic Acid 2% by Minimalist– Salicylic Acid is famously known for its ability to unclog pores and exfoliate the skin. It can help with deep cleansing by penetrating through oily skin and clogged pores. Minimalist’s Salicylic Acid 2% is formulated with RonaCare Salicylic Acid Extra Pure and aloe vera juice, making it soothing for irritated skin in case of a breakout. It helps in exfoliation, giving skin a flawless matt look. It is fragrant-free, silicon-free, and oil-free.

Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution- One of the most difficult and stressful issues with acne is scarring. This serum helps in fading acne scars, evens out the skin tone, and lightens the dark spots in less than two weeks. Since it has Activated C A potent next-generation actives and White Birch extracts, making it one of the best acne treatments for acne-prone skin.

Kama Ayurveda Nimrah Anti Acne Face Pack– The benefits of Ayurvedic products for acne-prone skin cannot be overstated. Kama Ayurveda Nimrah Anti Acne Pack is one of the top products that works as an acne treatment. It is an effectual mix of Ashwagandha, Red Sandalwood, Vetiver, Lodhra, Liquorice, and Coriander. All of these ingredients are well-known for their ability to treat acne, pimple scarring, and dark circles. This pack can be used twice a week for better results.