An Australian podcast producer living in India has stirred online debate after sharing her observations on the country’s reliance on domestic help, blaming the lack of work-life balance and the availability of cheap labour.
Bree Steele, who has been living in India since 2023, took to Instagram with a candid video, admitting she doesn’t do any cooking or cleaning while staying in the country. “Chores? I don’t know them,” she quipped, adding that most middle-class to wealthy Indian households employ domestic workers to handle tasks like cleaning, laundry and cooking.
Steele contrasted this lifestyle with what she described as the more self-reliant culture of the West, where full-time professionals typically manage housework alongside their jobs.
“I was like, that’s what we do in the West. We do everything ourselves with full-time jobs.”
However, she acknowledged the long working hours many Indian professionals endure. “Over time I’ve observed that my friends get work calls at like 9.30 at night. There’s no work-life balance here,” Steele said.
“The expectation on corporate workers is just so high that if you’re single, of course you don’t have time to do your own cooking and cleaning.”
She also highlighted the economic factors at play:
“For better or for worse, labour is cheap in India, so it makes sense that everyone has their own house help.”
Steele concluded her video by admitting she was “ashamed” at how much she enjoyed not having to do daily chores.
Steele’s comments sparked a flurry of reactions online, igniting a broader discussion about income inequality, social expectations, and how different cultures approach domestic life.
Steele’s video has struck a chord and boosted her popularity, sparking conversation about global lifestyles, privilege, and the cost of convenience.
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