The real problem of living with my in-laws.
It’s not what you think.
I liked to think of myself as an open-minded, feminist—a woman who would only marry someone who would treat her as an equal.
When I decided to marry my husband, he had warned me about the small town and Hindu Orthodox background his family came from.
I came to respect my in-laws very soon. They have a lot in common with my parents with their middle-class upbringing and driven mindset. My sister-in-laws made the process even easier by explaining the family traditions. They welcomed me into the family with open arms.
But what I was not prepared for were the double standards of the institution of Indian marriage.
One thing that is common among all Indian women — is our conditioning.
From a young age, Indian girls are told they are to live with their spouse and their family after their wedding. Knowingly or unknowingly, the thought becomes a part of us and prepares us for the moment.
Although truth be told, nothing could ever prepare you for this change.
The very practice of living with your husband’s family is just one cog in the wheel of Indian patriarchy.
Taking care of one’s parents is a noble act that is considered of utmost importance in…
