March 8th is International Women’s Day. In the U.S., March is Women’s month! As we celebrate advances that have been made by women all around the world despite the handicaps and discrimination that they have had to deal with on a regular basis, newspapers and magazines are filled with articles that bring to the forefront issues that still confront women and hurdles that we still have to cross while attempting to achieve equality.

An ancient Sanskrit saying goes, “Woman is the home and the home is the basis of a society. It is as we build our homes that we can build our country.” Is it not true that our home mirrors the society we live in? If we feel safe and loved at home, we can go on to achieve great things in our life. I sat down to write an article considering how a caring family is an inherent part of most women’s progress.

The dynamics of both our home and the society have dramatically changed in the last decade or so. Today we see women in prominent fields like law, medicine, business, politics etc., we talk of women entrepreneurs and astronauts, we see women taking on non-traditional jobs and succeeding. In the home, we see more women making decisions, dominating discussions, leading family members, organizing family activities, nurturing relationships and balancing a successful career and home.

Today’s woman wants to be known not only as a mother, sister, or daughter but also as an engineer, doctor or lawyer. She wants to move beyond her defined roles into uncharted territories where she will be able to make a name for herself outside her home.  But, to achieve this success, she needs the support of a caring and loving family. Managing well both family and career is the prime concern of every modern era family woman, but it sure comes with its own set of problems. Devoting her time and energy to both can be difficult and demanding for a working woman. Today our private and public lives are intertwined and both influence each other. If we come from a culturally integrated family, where the woman is respected and her opinions valued, where the man shares the burden of running a house along with his spouse and where the children are responsible and partake in daily duties and are supportive, it is easier for the woman to manage the “double burden” of a home and a career.  And, there is significantly less stress and conflict at both places.

A resourceful and stable home is the center of many civilizations, be it ancient or modern. A culturally integrated family is a useful and meaningful unit of the society and helps to build consequential relationships, both inside and outside our homes. That in order, we can move towards greater and more meaningful things in life. Any strategy to effectively deal with the pressures of a workplace and demands of a home can be tackled better when it is done together as a family and not alone by an individual. Women who belong to a secure family often find that work-place stress is offset by family support they receive. When all members of the family contribute to the well being of each other it will be easier to walk together and in step with others!

Remember that every woman has a duty to keep the wheel of progress turning, but to do this she needs the help of a stable support system.  “Ask” should be the key word in a working woman’s dictionary. Many women juggle to maintain a work life balance all alone without seeking help. Once you learn to ask and you recieve help, success becomes easier.

Vidya Rangan