Gone are the days when the responsibility of childcare was levied solely on the mother. The tides have turned today with men taking paternity leaves to help the kid and the mother recover from going through labor. This shift in mindset can be seen with institutions coming up with gender-neutral facilities for both parents.
Bengaluru airport is one such place that is currently being lauded online for promoting inclusivity and not restricting childcare to just one gender by including a diaper change station not just in the women’s bathroom but inside the men’s loo too.
This was brought to light by a Twitter user who shared the pic of the changing station and wrote that such initiatives should be celebrated.
Needs to be celebrated. Spotted in a men's washroom at @BLRAirport – a diaper change station.
Childcare is not just a woman's responsibility.
👏🏻✨ pic.twitter.com/Za4CG9jZfR
— Sukhada (@appadappajappa) June 27, 2022
Apparently, Bengaluru airport also has a dedicated baby care room where both parents can enter and help.
I seem to remember BLR airport also has a seperate baby care room outside of Loos. Missus & I had both gone in together a few times to attend to our boy when he was of diaper wearing age.
— Cringe Element (@Calvinator_18) June 27, 2022
Yes, and they were very well maintained too! This is from earlier this year, when my boy could still fit on that changing table (unwilling to face that fact that he’s growing up!) pic.twitter.com/9SmPlvumdC
— Arjun Sharma (@supersharma) June 27, 2022
Thank you Sukhada @appadappajappa for your appreciation. The diaper change station has been a feature of our washrooms – irrespective of gender – at the #BLRAirport. They are well-equipped and enable a parent to change a baby in privacy and comfort. #Bengaluru #babycare #airport https://t.co/H7BRDAsLvA
— BLR Airport (@BLRAirport) June 28, 2022
Someone also spotted a senior citizen diaper changing room at the food court on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
This is next to the rather clean loo in the Foodcourt in the Mumbai Pune Expressway. Beat this ! pic.twitter.com/O1UnBZQZ8j
— Vasudevan Srinivasan (@VaasuSrinivasan) June 27, 2022
People online were glad that like the West, people in India are also coming up with such progressive initiatives.
Such a common sight everywhere in the UK. Glad that somebody back home is following the suit.
— Not-Fiction (@startafresh4) June 27, 2022
I see this in most international airports! But good to see India gradually joining gender role parity construct
— Saurabh Raj Sarkar 🇺🇸🇮🇳 (@RajSarkarBpl) June 28, 2022
Saw it at @Rcitymall, Ghatkopar, Mumbai and used it too.
Was so glad..— Chintan Vora (@theunsocialguy) June 27, 2022
Meanwhile @aaikolairport @KolkataAirport pic.twitter.com/flgsKcdkjY
— ಗೌರಿಶಂಕರ গৌরীশঙ্কর Gourishankar (@gsdastapur) June 28, 2022
Is it not men’s job to change diaper and let you child suffer for sake you manhood? I did that for both my kids and wouldn’t mind changing any Kids diapers. When kids are breast fed their poo doesn’t smell.
— Sergeant khirwar (@Vayu_Fauzi) June 27, 2022
True likewise … Paying all household bills is not mens responsibility… Including luxury diaper …women can contribute too…
— NB (@bohara_navneet) June 28, 2022
That’s exactly what you shouldn’t do! Don’t celebrate such things .. instead normalise them!!
— Pranesh Joshi (@pranesh1109) June 27, 2022
Impressive, but by the time a “man” gets in there, the “woman” would already be changing the child’s diaper in the women’s toilet. But great initiative… 👏👏👏
— happymi (@cosmictaurean) June 27, 2022
This is great to see, so many places have it only in the women's washroom. It should either be in a place where it is accessible to both, ie. outside gender specific washrooms or in both. https://t.co/lYed9vIXtI
— Sandeep Sarma (@sandeep9sarma) June 28, 2022
Our country is changing for good 👌👏 https://t.co/sQbnf2S8so
— Amit Nagpal (@AmitxNagpal) June 28, 2022
Change that makes me feel hopeful. Whoever was part of the thinking team, thought inclusive and in terms of equal responsibility. https://t.co/x0QZX6fQ3W
— Pallavi Pareek (She/They) (@PallaviPareek) June 27, 2022
Agree. Excellent move @BLRAirport Well done 👍 https://t.co/KW57L6GlXF
— Hemanth DP (@DPHemanth) June 27, 2022
Even though this should be the norm and a common sight everywhere by now, the fact that someone is leading and setting an example is worth the applause.