Thursday, June 13, 2013

On Being a Girl !

Coming from an Indian background where girls are married off at quite an early age it is evident that I have my own share of thoughts or views on various issues.

Today I would majorly concentrate on the most Important and prominent topic “How it feels to be a girl”

I would be dishonest if I said I haven’t had a satisfactory life or haven’t enjoyed it to the fullest. Thanks to my Dad who had his firm belief in me & bestowed upon me with all that I wanted or ever asked for.

However there are times in my life when I wish I had more liberty, to discover the world, move out & craft a whole new identity for myself.

Growing up, I came faced numerous hurdles, sometimes when I made key decisions of my life. People tried to bring be down, tried to demoralize me but I didn’t give up. I had chosen a path & I made sure I walk the path to achieve the goals I envisioned.  

When I graduated from college and was preparing for my MBA entrance exams, I had a relative come over to my house & he spoke to my dad about getting me and my sister married. My sister who is just a year older – was busy doing her Post Graduation at that very time. He said things like “Why are you letting your daughter’s pursue higher education, It is becoming extremely difficult to find grooms for girls these days, with education their expectations have gone high!”

For a moment after that man walked out from my house, he had influenced my dad with whatever he said – My dad did speak about marriage after that. However, after some time he forgot about it.

Education has been of utmost importance for everyone in my family. My dad constantly supported us when it came to education & motivated us to set high goals which we would never falter to achieve. Now as I grow up and have stepped the corporate ladder, there are certain boundaries or restrictions I have to keep in mind & follow.

When I speak about going to another city for a meeting my dad is very hesitant & disapproves for the same. When I talk about going to another country he once more disapproves. It is not because he doesn’t want me to grow and be successful; it is because he is overly protective because “I AM A GIRL”

The only thing which really upsets me is - My brother can go abroad for further studies, He can carve a career out for himself abroad, He is allowed to go on trips to other cities or for that matter other countries & while he can do all of the above mentioned things “I CAN’T” do the same. Not because I don’t have the competence but because the society will not like it & will scoff at us. 

Why does the society talk about marriage as soon as we finish our education & plan to work? Why can a boy think about his career but a girl can’t? Why such Double Standards?

I have least interest in the society; I don’t even care what they think about me. All I want to do is to live my LIFE my way. I’m sure there are many girls like me who feel the same, & who face similar issues daily. Every so often I feel like a bird whose wings have been cut off & can’t fly. 

When will the society learn to mind their own business & treat us “girls” equally? For how long will we have to curb our desires & do things according to the society? Only if dad knew & didn’t bother about what the society thinks but how it feels “On Being a Girl”…..