Stress Faced by Homemakers Due to Online Mode of Education and Work from Home by Family Members During Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

COVID-19 has caused immense psychological and physical stress to almost everyone in the world. It has drastically changed the way people live and work. It has changed the way people communicate with each other and it has also changed the way people perceive different situations, relationships and things. Though a lot is talked about, discussed and researched upon the effects of COVID-19 on work-life balance, education sector, financial issues, issues arising from Work from Home for employees, health concerns about senior citizens and people with co-morbidities, the stress faced by homemakers due to online mode of education and work from home by family members during COVID-19 pandemic, is an area that remains relatively neglected. Family members being at home for most of the time of the day, is a new phenomenon for these homemakers. It is not very easy for them to deal with this new situation emotionally and physically. It means a lot of compromises are expected to be made by the homemaker in terms of time, energy and privacy, as she is most often taken for granted by our male dominated society. She has lost the only ME time that she used to get during the day while her family members were out attending their daily chores. Being at home for most of the time by family members has also increased her work at home as it is assumed by most of the family members that while they are busy attending to their professional and educational commitments, she is relatively free to take care of all their needs. This research paper tries to explore the stress faced by these homemakers due to such situations arising out of COVID-19.