International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Tale of Technology: The Influence of Modern Appliances on Middle-Class Homemakers in Lucknow

This sociological study examines how middle-class homemakers in Lucknow, India—a city known for its syncretic Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb and changing urban identity—are affected by contemporary household appliances. The study examines how appliances like vacuum cleaners, microwaves, and washing machines etc. have changed gender roles, time management, and domestic work through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 homemakers from urban areas like Gomti Nagar, Indira Nagar, and Aliganj.According to research, these technologies greatly lessen physical labor, allowing women to engage in profitable endeavors like chikankari needlework and devote more time to social and familial obligations. But, when social pressures increase for idealized home norms, they also serve to uphold established gender roles. Within the historical context of Lucknow, which includes colonial reforms, post-independence urbanization, and Nawabi grandeur, the study emphasizes the relationship between gender, technology, and cultural identity.By showing how appliances both empower and constrain middle-class women in a culturally distinct urban setting, it advances feminist sociology. The study urges more investigation into how technology is changing domesticity in tier-2 cities in India and supports laws that challenge patriarchal norms and provide equal access to technology.