Actor Barkha Singh in an exclusive conversation on Hauterrfly’s The Male Feminist, spoke openly about the patriarchal conditioning she’s had to unlearn, and why it’s not just men who need to break the cycle, but women too. She said, “One of the biggest things I’ve had to unlearn is this idea that it’s my mom’s responsibility to keep the house running. No, it’s not just her job, it’s mine, it’s my dad’s, it’s everyone’s,” Barkha shared. “We need to stop assigning roles based on gender. That mindset doesn’t serve anyone anymore.”
She also addressed one of the most common social rules placed on women. “Why are girls told not to laugh loudly? I’ve unlearned that too. I’ll laugh as loudly as I want, why shouldn’t I?” Barkha highlighted how gender roles, often mistaken for biological ones, are socially constructed to support patriarchal systems. “There’s a difference between biological and gender roles. Gender roles were created to keep patriarchy in place. And it’s not just on men, it’s on women too. We’ve internalised a lot of it, and I’m actively trying to unlearn those patterns,” she said.
She also believes it’s important to influence people around her. “I make sure that everyone in my circle is also rethinking these things. We have to break this conditioning together.” Switching gears, Barkha opened up about a common misconception around makeup and vanity. “My partner once got annoyed that I was taking too long to get ready. I told him, this isn’t for you, it’s for me. I want to look and feel like a million bucks.”
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She added, “Makeup, dressing up, wearing heels, it’s a mood lifter. And honestly, even when women do it for others, it’s more often for other women in the room than for men.”
On the latest episode of The Male Feminist, Barkha Singh also opened up about sexism, industry red flags and more.
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