DEAR DAUGHTER
Dear Daughter,
I am sorry. I am really sorry for bringing you into a world where you were a little less wanted than your brother. Yes I know you don’t cry as much as he does and your eating habits are so much better. You smile a little more and don’t have troublesome sleeping patterns. The fault is not yours my darling. The problem is that the paths engraved by society for you and for your brother are very different. The goals set for you are very different.

You, my child, will have to fall in love with everything pink as soon as you open your eyes because that’s the only color you’ll see on your bedroom walls, on the balloons your family gets for you and on the tiny frocks you get as gifts. This color will have to be your favorite and then as you grow, you’ll be teased for it till you begin to hate the color.

You’ll be gifted a dozen dolls and everyone will tell you to take care of them. You’ll bathe them, cook for them and change their outfits. You’ll be told to organize tea parties for your dolls. So much work for you my child, which you’ll slowly accept as your duty, not just for those play dates but for the real world. While you’re at it, your brother will play with cars and planes. He’ll run around the house and break things, not scolded often because “boys will be boys”. You’ll later be teased about dolls and about not being too comfortable around cars too my darling. All I can tell you is that it’s not your fault. I’m sorry for bringing you into this world.

They’ll tell you to cover up. Your body, they’ll tell you, is in constant need of protection. You will be body-shamed, slut-shamed and catcalled. You cannot wear what you are comfortable in. You’ll have to choose outfits that don’t make those around you uncomfortable. You cannot have acne or any other marks on your face because they’ll make you less beautiful. “Beautiful” in this world is already defined by society and you do not have a chance of redefining the term. I am sorry my daughter for bringing you into this world.

As you grow up you’ll realize how different the goals set for you and your brother are. You might be smarter, get better grades, get into the best college but you’ll be praised and showered with love only when you become a “beautiful bride”. “Being settled” will mean something totally different for the two of you. For you, it’ll mean getting married and for him it’ll mean getting a good job and finally earning his own bread. I know you’re capable of so much more than your brother. You are capable of so much but your path has already been decided my dear. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for bringing you into this world.
Yours truly
An unborn mother
Credits-
PS- Thank You Mumma and Papa for helping me carve out my own path. I won’t let you down.
