Wired Differently

Lalita Iyer Musings

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus. This is the unadulterated truth. This book was written in 1992 and revolutionized the way we suddenly looked at men and women. The tragedy is that nothing really has changed. Some of us women have become more vocal, but really nothing has moved.

I think that will continue till another lifetime. Because biologically women continue to be the bearer of children and also their nurturers. Delivery, on the flipside is creation itself. A standalone miracle, but there are a few other women-specific activities which I do not wish to dwell upon. It is this vulnerability which sometimes breaks us. And considers us weak.

Men and women are wired differently. Our thought processes are different, hence the behavioural patterns. This is nothing new. Various people have written about this, with psychological, gender and personality traits clearly noted down. And not to mention the jokes. On women, specifically.

Though I am convinced we are different, yet the fights with the opposite sex never stop. In my case, the fights with the husband are de rigeur. And have I sensitised him. Probably. There are those rare moments.

The other day a friend mentioned that her daughter-in-law had laid down some rules at home in the US, regards equal distribution of work. Both of them are working and hence. The mother in her is upset when the girl fights over tasks not done, wondering why she always had to make a point.

Harking back to my generation, we took great pleasure and pride in multi-tasking. Now I think that word should be exorcised from all women's mind space. But yet why is it that I feel the burden of carrying a lot more?

On a lighter moment, my kitchen gets to be the most happening place when M has to even make a simple cup of tea. Or roast an applam in the microwave oven. By the way, I simply believe that all girls and boys should know how to make tea (or coffee), daal and chawal. And now with the help of Instagram and all the masalas and all the vegetables in all the dishes, it can't be too difficult.

And it is real fun to watch some cute guys make some sensational and traditional dishes but distract you with their finger-licking good looks.

– Lalita Iyer 

  Senior Journalist