Ariel asks men, “Is your Home Team as strong as your Dream Team?”

Over the last 9 years, Ariel India has sparked conversations around the unequal division of domestic chores within households and urging more and more men to #ShareTheLoad.

As society progresses, men have increasingly recognized the importance of supporting their partners equally. Since we began this journey in 2015, the percentage of men who believed that household chores, like laundry, are solely a woman's job has drastically decreased from 79% to 25%.

However, acknowledging the need for further progress, Ariel is driving the conversation forward to encourage men to not only accept the physical aspect of household chores but also to act as a team at home to share the mental load. This collective effort will significantly contribute to men earning the trust of their partners by stepping up, ensuring that she can confidently step out into the world. This year, Ariel poses a pertinent question – How strong is your HomeTeam? By urging men to #ShareTheLoad, Ariel aims to foster a culture of equal ownership and accountability of household chores between husbands and wives, seamlessly integrating both the physical and mental aspects of running a household.

In the latest film, 'HomeTeams #ShareTheLoad,' Ariel aims to introduce the notion of fostering a team dynamic within the household, reiterate household chores as a collective responsibility. Additionally, Ariel is urging couples to recalibrate their roles and responsibilities – can men handle both the mental and physical responsibilities of running the household in her absence? If yes, what stops from this becoming a way of life? This introspection is crucial in fostering true equality within households.

“In response to the evolving dynamics within households, driven by the increasing representation of women in the formal sector, we recognize the need to adapt our approach to laundry care. With higher incomes, increased mobility, and growing aspirations, households are experiencing changes in laundry patterns, time constraints, and a heightened demand for convenience. At Ariel, we are committed to creating an ecosystem at home that empowers women by easing their domestic responsibilities. Our mission goes beyond providing superior cleaning products; we aim to foster genuine partnership and equality within households. By understanding the evolving needs of consumers, we strive to rewrite the narrative of gender roles and empower both men and women to share responsibilities equitably. This year. We are attempting to spotlight the never-ending to do lists, a sign of the mental load, that women continue to disproportionately bear. Together, through initiatives like #ShareTheLoad, our aspiration is to cultivate households where it's equally common for men and women to not only share the physical chores like laundry but also share the mental load of household responsibilities,” said Mukta Maheshwari, Chief Marketing Officer, P&G India, and Vice President - Fabric Care, P&G Indian subcontinent.

“#ShareTheLoad is not just an advertising campaign; it’s a silent revolution that’s changing the way Indian society perceives household chores between couples. Each year we uncover a hidden truth. Our deep listening process, in collaboration with the team at P&G Ariel, helps us sense the mood of the nation, the home, and the individual. This year we are hearing more and more women say they are giving up on growth opportunities because of the mental and emotional load of domestic responsibilities. This holds many women back and stops them from achieving their full potential. But things are changing. There are so many moments in the film that show us this reality and how the shift is happening. In the end, the film captures the realization of the husband and the effort he puts in to ensure his wife doesn't have to take a step back at work. A giant step for equality at home,” said Josy Paul, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, BBDO India.