It Makes Me Think
Sometimes, very small and casual comments or responces and reactions make me think for hours and days. And with no exceptions — parents, family, friends, peers or any of the random people around me. It is said that experience is the best teacher. I am not sure about the lessons learned, but these experiences definitely provoke me to think! To think a lot!! About myself, the great society, our culture and our mindset. Here is one of the random experiences I recently had and hence the followed thoughts:
One of my sisters from the extended family recently got engaged. She is exactly my age and comes from the same family background. A typical Indian, rather Maharastian, family. That led to a long discussion between some ladies from my family, who technically has got nothing to do with that girl or her marriage. Still they discussed everything from the family background of the boy she is about to get married to; to how the young generation ambitious and career oriented girls are not suitable for family life!!
Why are people so much interested in things which are none of their business? A marriage is a very very personal decision. You start talking about our marriage the moment me turn 21 or 22. And on the other hand, you don’t believe that a girl can have that maturity to decide about her marriage and take her own decisions. We are not always right, I completely agree. But personally and principally I hate the generalisation in any way. Please don’t be so judgemental towards a person you know nothing about. There are all types of people in each of the so called classes of the society — both economical and social!! So just stop judging a person with some prejudice.
Coming towards the career oriented girls!! What is wrong in being career oriented, at the first place? “No matter how much you study or whatever success you achieve in the outside world, if you are not able to cook for your family, then you are good for nothing!! After all, you are a girl!!” Seriously??? That is so insulting!! I am ready to cook for my family. But because I would like to; not just because I am a girl!! No way!! And achieving something is nothing to be proud about? Doesn’t that need efforts? We keep saying that its 21st century and the time has changed and so the people. But are we really ‘changed’ people?? We really need to think.
I have seen families around me not allowing girls to travel, to have new experience, to work in so called male dominated fields, to be a part of discussions, to take decisions!! The only reason being that they are girls!! If the family itself will keep on passing such comments and treat girls in this manner, then there is no reason to expect the society to look from different perspective. There are people who truly respect the girls. I agree and respect that. But I think, there are people yet to change their mindset.
I am not asking for any special treatment being a girl or “ladies first” attitude! Accepting all the natural and obvious limitations, lets just start following equality in positive manner and not just as a topic for argument or fight!! A girl should not make the fact of ‘being girl’ an excuse. And everyone else, including other girls and women, should treat that girl with all due respect!!
