The curious case of this amazing lady
I am going to share a very curious case of this amazing lady who doesn’t wish to be named. But she wants your suggestion in something that is haunting her since many years. Would you like to know what she wants to ask you? Read on.
Born in a loving family, this little girl was a free-spirited, jolly person who was always positive and cheerful. The apple of her parents’ eyes, this lovely girl was not raised as a girl, but as an individual. She participated in household chores as much as she participated in sports and outdoor activities. She was made to believe that girls and boys are equal in all aspects, and that gender should never be a determinant of a person’s mental capability.
Being good in studies, she wanted to pursue higher studies- a decision that was supported by her parents. After all, talent should be encouraged, isn’t it? With her dedication and hard work, she secured a scholarship and pursued her MBA from one of the most reputed B-schools in India. There also, she proved her mettle and topped her exams. It was not surprising when she was hand-picked by a very reputed MNC during campus placement. So, there she was at 24 years of age, very confident and working with a big name and drawing a fat paycheck. Life was cool. She had many plans- travelling abroad with her parents, buying a house and a car, and living life on her own terms. But destiny had something else in store.
A road accident changed her life. It took away her parents. While she narrowly escaped death, her fractured nose and the big scar extending from her forehead to her chin shattered her confidence and would remind her of this fateful day forever. She had to quit her job because she needed time to recuperate, and because corporate life has no place for unplanned personal events. Relatives started pouring in- some sympathizing with her, and other pitying her ‘condition’.
Eventually, she found another job, and got married. But her new family had very different ideologies. They believed that women are meant to take care of the house and only the man is supposed to earn. She was forced to quit her job because the family was well-off and they didn’t see why financial independence is important for a woman. She was torn between her beliefs and those of her new ‘family’. She managed the household chores perfectly and her financial needs were always fulfilled, but something inside her was dying- her spark and confidence. Whenever she discussed her dilemma with her husband, he would ask her to ignore what others said, but never really offered a solution. She secretly believed that she shouldn’t have got married. Years passed. She is now a mother of two girls, completely unsure of how to raise them.
Should she teach her daughters that men and women are equal? What if her daughters are married into families that think otherwise? Should she teach her daughters to be demure, adjusting and submissive; or to be bold and courageous? How can she ensure that the fate of her daughters doesn’t depend on the mentality of their future families? Do you think it is more important to raise boys that respect women, or to raise girls that adjust according to the wish of their future families? She has many such questions and needs your honest opinion. Would you share your thoughts?
