Division of Housework and Subjective Feelings among Indian Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

Abstract

Women shouldered most housework despite their educational and employment status before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of Indian women in the division of housework and their subjective feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. A sample of twelve Indian married working women shared their experiences through semi-structured interviews. The findings show that most Indian women shouldered the housework burden while juggling both paid and unpaid work simultaneously during the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of Indian women felt stressed because they perceived housework as women’s responsibility. Indian women’s experiences and negative feelings indicate the need for policy makers to narrow gender inequality in unpaid domestic work and enhance women’s well-being in the households.