I always wondered when people spoke of discrimination between the boy and girl child. I safely assumed this a difference existent only in rural lifestyles, conservative households. I took it to be a difference long gone in modern society. But then it got me thinking - is the difference really gone or is the assumption another double standard we find easy to live by?
We have the tendency to look at the bigger picture and ignore the little details. But in the bargain we forget it is these minute details that also help define us and our society. Though on one hand it is true that today the difference between the education given to a child is irrespective of his sex. It is also true that both the boy and girl have equal opportunity to choose their career path. However, if we look closer into the day to day lives we find the disparities that are still existent.
The boy can come home past midnight but the girl is expected to be in bed by the time the clock strikes twelve. When the boy leaves for university he is sat down by his father and given a lecture on safe sex. But for the girl going to university is a debate based on whether she is allowed to go for that hypothetical dinner date. On one hand the boy is encouraged to share a drink with his parents but on the other the mere mention of alcohol from a girl makes her parents cringe. The boy is told to go for that European road trip for it will help widen his horizons but the girl is required to be back home in vacations unless she chooses a place with relatives in the vicinity.
The list is not an exhaustive one once we begin to take the little things into account. These differences may never end up being deal breakers but they remain to be troubled differences nonetheless. Today we pride ourselves by being the forward thinking modern society but then are we really?
5 comments:
I think that you have hit the nail on the head with the differences. They're easily ignored but curiously typical. Please keep writing :)
One thing that he daughters never get to hear from their parents is...your husband has changed you,while, the son ,once married,ALWAYS gets to hear...your wife has changed you,you were not like this!
so some advantages for the guys and some for girls!
Keep smiling and writing always!
I agree...but you know when its your turn...I am sure you will not. Education does not equal to equality...some ladies can be CEO outside but in the home the rules are made up and followed as per the male.
I agree to it... but u hav left a lacuna of the thought behind following of these hypocritical customs. the answer is that India is a patriarchal society where men decides everything for women and we are the ones who abide by them... it means anatomy is destiny where the girl is made to be a girl by the social customs surrounding her starting from her family, neighours, community, state and so on.... Together we can and we are making changes in the 250 gram thinking process of men to give h women equal opportunities but its long way to go... As a Indian together we can and will make a difference to give the girl its right position in the society....
Dear shruti I have one question for you !!
will you allow your daughter for the things you mentioned ??
If your answer is Yes then you are great :)
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