Airports are special places where, when you have time and are not in a rush to go anywhere, you can observe people. Sitting at Paris airport in the morning, it was interesting to see how young parents were busy taking pictures and recording memories of their kids' travels, while some people just lounged around. There were women in designer clothes and fancy bags, others in sweatpants, well-dressed gentlemen, and some men in shorts—some looking happy, some very tired.
Flights are another story. You're stuck between two people, or at least one is next to you. On longer flights, it's hard to ignore your companion. You can make conversation and talk about various things without disclosing too much personal information. I spoke with a woman in her 30s, a mother of a six-year-old child. She grew up in Lucknow (North India) and moved to Bangalore (South India) for work 10 years ago. She works with Amazon and had gone to Paris for work for a week, heading back home. We talked about various things. I’m guessing she is about 18 to 20 years younger than me, so we represent two different generations in a way.
We discussed how women are becoming more independent, how work is important for them, and how husbands are sharing responsibilities. We ended up talking about a movie, Mrs.—about a woman’s place in the family after she gets married. We discussed how these cultural shifts are impacting society and how movies are reflecting this new culture.
The conversation stayed with me as I reflected on the changes in society over the last 30 years since I got married. How the roles and mindsets are changing. How women are striving to be equal partners and expecting the same from their spouses.
Cultural shifts are reshaping the family dynamics I am sure societal expectations of gender roles will continue to evolve in the next few decades. What are you teaching your daughter and son? Would you expect the same from your son in law and for your daughter in law?
A simple cotton for a family meet.
