Australian podcast producer Bree Steele, who’s been living in India since 2023, recently shared a viral video reflecting on the differences in household dynamics between India and the West. In the clip, Steele candidly expressed surprise at how common it is for Indian middle- and upper-class homes to rely on domestic help for tasks like cooking and cleaning.
“I don’t cook or clean in India. Chores? I hardly know them,” she said, adding that the practice is largely shaped by India’s intense work culture. She noted that many of her Indian friends receive work calls even late at night, and the concept of work-life balance seems non-existent compared to Western standards.
Initially, Steele was puzzled by how many of her Indian peers found managing housework themselves impractical, especially while working full-time. “Back home, we handle everything—job, chores, errands,” she said. But she acknowledged that the combination of affordable domestic labour and high professional pressure creates a different lifestyle in India—outsourcing becomes a necessity, not a luxury.
Steele ended her video admitting she feels “guilty” for enjoying a life free of daily chores. Her post triggered mixed reactions online. Some users related to the convenience in India but questioned the chase for Western ideals. Others, having lived in both cultures, felt the West still offered more personal time, even with added responsibilities.
Another American expat in India, Kristen Fischer, echoed similar sentiments in a separate video, calling India more vibrant and community-driven than the individualism she experienced back home.
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