Don’t get educated, who will marry you? …
You’re a girl. You should take home science, not science! …
Who asked for your opinion? Shut up!
Aren’t these some very common phrases that are said to girls? Be it for career or marriage, a girl’s opinion or choice are never taken into consideration. They’ll always be just someone who obeys others and don’t have their own identity. We all know, that providing education can change the girls’ lives but we are afraid to do so. We know, if we provide literacy to the girls, they’ll fly out of their cages (ladkiya udd jayegi). They’ll become independent and they’ll make their own decisions which will hurt the patriarchy. In many rural or semi-urban areas, parents are more willing to spend on their daughter’s wedding than on their education. Why? Because if they become learned, they won’t find “suitable” grooms. They won’t tolerate the injustices which in turn will make them unacceptable.
Do we really think that this NEP can change the lives of women? No new policy can change their lives unless the mindset of the people change.