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WHAT WOMEN WANT !! (??) Janet wakes up at 6 am…ready for another day at work Breakfast gulped down in a hurry, kids readied for school Packs lunch in doggie bags for hubby and herself A shower and change, time for the 0805 downtown
Gets off the train, rushing to the office building Oops! Missed the elevator, runs up the stairs Panting as she enters and takes her seat Her intercom rings, its her boss….he’s already there!
He tells her a colleague has called in sick Now she’s stuck with two people’s work to do Gets through her files and meetings somehow The day flies past at a crazy pace
Run now, rush! There’s the 1915 going uptown She manages to find some place to sit Gets off at the station next to the market Stops and shops for the evening meal
Back home and just enough time for a coffee The kids are hungry and their dad’s on his way She has to cook dinner and then do the dishes The housemaid’s taken the day off again
Liberated Janet, modern day woman Educated, successful and independent Big paycheck every month, promotion is due But why isn’t she as happy as she should be?
Guilty as hell about the kids being neglected Resenting her husband for not lending a hand Feeling used and exploited both at home and at work If this is liberation, wondering what slavery was!
Oh! what she wouldn’t do for a warm soak in the tub And a leisurely walk in the evenings with the dog No deadlines, no reports, no boss to be answered Snug and contented like the housewife next door
Debbie has the time to stop and smell the roses For her kitchen garden and her kids’ car pool To meet up with friends for high tea every week Even curl up with a book or watch T V… (or so Janet thinks! )
What she can’t see is Debbie’s daily routine To run her house like a well oiled machine On call all hours of the day, all year round Taken for granted, no recognition, no perks!
"Just a housewife" is what they call her Her college education now means nothing Stuck in a rut, frustrated at the loss of her identity Just a dark shadow of what she used to be
The neighbor, Deborah...Debbie...who envies Janet Her business suits and the language she spoke Wanting to step over the threshold ...into Janet's smart shoes From being a "doormat" ..to being "liberated and free!" ~Swati Chandran~
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