Education and urban migration are driving a shift toward independence. Approximately 45 million households in India (about 2 in 10) are now headed by women.

In traditional Indian society, women were often expected to prioritize their roles as wives, mothers, and caregivers. The concept of "sati" – a woman's self-immolation on her husband's funeral pyre – was once practiced in some parts of India, although it is now outlawed. While this extreme example is no longer prevalent, women are still often expected to manage the household, raise children, and support their families.

Meera nodded. “So do I,” she said, though her mother had been gone twenty years.

Many modern women juggle formal careers with primary responsibility for unpaid domestic labor. 2. Fashion and Attire

That evening, when her husband asked, “What’s for dinner?” Meera didn’t list the dishes. She sat down beside him and said, “Let’s order in. And tomorrow, I’ll show you how to chop an onion.”

Despite career advances, many women still manage the majority of household duties, leading to a rise in conversations about domestic equality. Fashion: A Spectrum of Color