When men become caregivers

While chronicling her journey with cancer, actress Hina Khan has talked about how her boyfriend, Rocky Jaiswal, stood like a rock by her side. He even shaved his head, in solidarity with the actress who experienced hair loss due to chemotherapy.

“To the man who is always by my side even if there are hundred reasons to give up.. To this selfless man who only knows how to hold on. we have been with each other through so much.. through every thick n thin. We truly have lived a lifetime together and have stood with each other..I remember he didn’t Have Covid in the peak of the Pandemic but chose to stay with me through out, he wore 3 masks all day but made sure he took care of me...From the day we started the chemo to this very day when I am going through my radiations he has been my guiding light...From cleaning me up to dressing me up, he’s done it all..He has created a field of impenetrable Protection Around me (sic)...” Khan wrote on Instagram.

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, has often talked about his wife, Kirron Kher’s, journey with blood cancer and how they overcame it by not giving up.
Traditionally, men have been the breadwinners and the women the caregivers, but there is an increasing tribe of men who do not shun caregiver roles.

“Expectations of society from men and women have evolved significantly over the years. As gender roles have become more fluid, men are now encouraged to express emotions, share responsibilities, and engage in caregiving roles, something that was traditionally seen as a woman’s domain. With greater emphasis on gender equality, men feel more comfortable participating in the emotional and domestic aspects of a relationship, offering care and support as equals,” says Dr Manjula C Rao, a psychologist.

Sopranos actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler has spoken often about how her husband supported her in her struggle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In an interview with People magazine, he said that he wanted to help her out, whether it was the day-to-day things or getting his wife something from the kitchen or just letting her talk about it.

Shifting masculinity

Explaining that the notions about masculinity are shifting, Dr Manjula adds: “The modern concept of masculinity is evolving. More men are embracing the idea that masculinity doesn't mean being stoic or emotionally distant; it can also involve compassion, vulnerability, and the desire to support and care for others. This shift toward healthier masculinity allows men to engage in caregiving and emotional support without feeling that it threatens their identity as men.”


Data speak

According to the latest report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), 53 per cent of women in India remain outside the labour force due to caregiving responsibilities. As per data from the Time Use Survey conducted by the National Statistical Organization (NSO), women engaged in the workforce experience the double burden of balancing paid work and unpaid care work responsibilities, performing up to 5.9X more unpaid care work than employed men.

Through thick and thin

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana is known to celebrate his wife, Tahira Kashyap’s grit in the face of breast cancer. Besides being by her side, he shares glimpses of his wife’s journey on social media. On World Cancer Awareness day last year, he shared a photo that showed Tahira’s mastectomy scar and wrote: “In love with your heart and spirit.”

Politician and former cricketer, Navjot Singh Sidhu, had also shared a photo where he could be seen feeding his wife Navjot Kaur. The latter was diagnosed with cancer and it is in remission now.