'Parenting responsibilities are never fifty fifty, mothers do more in childcare than fathers:' Sani Mirza

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza recently spoke candidly about the unequal division of parenting responsibilities, stating that mothers inevitably contribute more to a child’s upbringing than fathers.

In a recent interview, Mirza shared her thoughts on motherhood, its emotional and physical impact, and how the journey has shaped her life.

As a renowned sportswoman, Sania married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, and the couple had a son, Izhaan Mirza Malik. Although the two have since parted ways, Izhaan lives with Sania in Dubai, where Shoaib visits him regularly.

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Commenting on the division of parental duties, Sania noted that despite both men and women playing equal roles in procreation, the world is inherently unequal in terms of caregiving.

“Men can return to their routines, but women must carry on with theirs while also shouldering the primary responsibility of raising the child,” she said.

Even in cases where fathers are actively involved, Sania believes the distribution is rarely equal.

“Parenting responsibilities are never 50/50,” she said, adding that mothers naturally end up doing more due to societal roles and biological realities.

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“These are roles defined over generations, where a woman is supposed to be the caregiver of the family,” she explained.

However, Sania acknowledged that times are changing. More women are now challenging traditional norms that once limited their potential and aspirations outside of motherhood.

She described the most overwhelming phase of her journey as the period when she was breastfeeding her son while simultaneously fulfilling her professional responsibilities as an athlete.