Is laundry only a woman’s job?

As a child do you remember playing house to be like your mum? Serving tea and biscuits and pretending to clean up after your dolls? Or going to your grandparents’ place and watching your grandma cooking, cleaning and ironing for your granddad while he read the paper?  You may not have questioned it much at the time but the gender roles within families are certainly being discussed today thanks to one TV ad…

Ariel, an Indian clothes detergent brand, has released a powerful ad called “Share the Load” that has had everyone talking about gender roles in the home. The ad shows a mum coming home from work, putting the dinner on and looking after her child while her husband and father sit back and relax.

It is shown from the point of view of the woman’s father who writes a letter apologising for placing these stereotypes on her while growing up. He says it’s not too late to change though and the ad ends with him helping his wife with the laundry.

So what do you think? Do these stereotypes of male and female roles still exist in your home? Do you wish they could change or do you think they are practical?

Here is the ad, have a watch and tell us what you think!