With the earning for the wife comes a yearning to understand and define her roles in the relationship. They want to be made sexually happy and socially accepted along with their husbands. As the century draws to a close many Indian women feel they have a bigger role to play in the bedroom than just being a 'sleeping partner'. Age-old gender barriers may be slowly coming down in many areas, yet the hierarchical pattern of the family remains intact. Naturally, problems will arise when women, more educated and economically stronger than before, begin demanding an equal say.
Men have to change if they want to avoid the problem.
Bringing about the transformation is never easy. Praveen Kumar, a Chennai businessman, had endorsed wife Shailaja's suggestion that she find a job to supplement the family income. The pressures of the workplace and home, however, proved too much for the young couple. Shailaja complained about Praveen's lack of support in the kitchen. She joins me only at 8 p.m.