It is the 21st century, people are becoming more liberal, accepting and less judgmental - not true.
It is the 21st century, people have become masters in disguising their judgement under the veil of social norms and play a blame game on social stigmas.
Allow me to tell you how blessed I am. I have an amazing, understanding and loving family. My mother and father have raised me with utmost love, have inculcated values in me, ensured the importance of tradition is intact in my being. When you know someones trusts you with all his/her heart, you feel indebted to them and more often than not voluntarily make sacrifices to ensure their faith never wavers and they are never let down.
As already mentioned in my profile I am a mechanical engineer so it is a given that sex ratio in my group is abysmal. I have a bunch of friends, only guys. (Ok I do have a female friend as well but that doesn't count, you ask why? I have grown up with her, she is like my family anyway)
So the joke is - In my marriage there will definitely be a maid of honor but no bridesmaid- only best man(men)! No one in my family has any qualms about it and honestly I never had to face any judgement by family, friends or even society for that matter. I am blessed that way.
However, today when I called up my father to take his permission to go on trip with my college friends (mentioning that the group had girls too) he hesitated. He asked me to think about it and take the decision if I feel right. I asked what his inhibitions were. He blatantly said "It might affect your future." Now, if at all my blog reaches people apart from India (God I hope it does!): what he meant was ours' being a conservative society a girl going out with guys for a trip is frowned upon.
It may lead to people questioning you (read: your character) and thus may affect your social life. It broke my heart.
Note here : that my father has always treated me respect. He adores me to death. I absolutely understand why he said what he said. It is brave of him to verbalise his concern out loud.
I thought about how awful it is that just because a third person who by no means has ever or will ever enrich my life I am giving up the infinitesimally few chances i get on travelling.
I decided to go, and my parents are absolutely happy with that.
Now, I would request my readers not to judge me if I am going on a trip with 5 people, 2 girls 3 guys.
I couldn't help but wonder if my parents, who are so liberal, hesitated in letting me go how much weight must be on other women's parents' shoulders.
Our parents and their generation form a society. Me and my peers will form ours. I promise myself I will never judge mine or other peoples' kids by their lifestyle choices. I request you to promise yourself the same.
Understand others, respect them and most importantly accept them.
I thought it is my duty to pen this feeling down so that if at all even a single person resonates my thought and pledges to bring the change it will be an act worth the effort.
Thanks for reading!
A woman, with male friends.
It is the 21st century, people have become masters in disguising their judgement under the veil of social norms and play a blame game on social stigmas.
Allow me to tell you how blessed I am. I have an amazing, understanding and loving family. My mother and father have raised me with utmost love, have inculcated values in me, ensured the importance of tradition is intact in my being. When you know someones trusts you with all his/her heart, you feel indebted to them and more often than not voluntarily make sacrifices to ensure their faith never wavers and they are never let down.
As already mentioned in my profile I am a mechanical engineer so it is a given that sex ratio in my group is abysmal. I have a bunch of friends, only guys. (Ok I do have a female friend as well but that doesn't count, you ask why? I have grown up with her, she is like my family anyway)
So the joke is - In my marriage there will definitely be a maid of honor but no bridesmaid- only best man(men)! No one in my family has any qualms about it and honestly I never had to face any judgement by family, friends or even society for that matter. I am blessed that way.
However, today when I called up my father to take his permission to go on trip with my college friends (mentioning that the group had girls too) he hesitated. He asked me to think about it and take the decision if I feel right. I asked what his inhibitions were. He blatantly said "It might affect your future." Now, if at all my blog reaches people apart from India (God I hope it does!): what he meant was ours' being a conservative society a girl going out with guys for a trip is frowned upon.
It may lead to people questioning you (read: your character) and thus may affect your social life. It broke my heart.
Note here : that my father has always treated me respect. He adores me to death. I absolutely understand why he said what he said. It is brave of him to verbalise his concern out loud.
I thought about how awful it is that just because a third person who by no means has ever or will ever enrich my life I am giving up the infinitesimally few chances i get on travelling.
I decided to go, and my parents are absolutely happy with that.
Now, I would request my readers not to judge me if I am going on a trip with 5 people, 2 girls 3 guys.
I couldn't help but wonder if my parents, who are so liberal, hesitated in letting me go how much weight must be on other women's parents' shoulders.
Our parents and their generation form a society. Me and my peers will form ours. I promise myself I will never judge mine or other peoples' kids by their lifestyle choices. I request you to promise yourself the same.
Understand others, respect them and most importantly accept them.
I thought it is my duty to pen this feeling down so that if at all even a single person resonates my thought and pledges to bring the change it will be an act worth the effort.
Thanks for reading!
A woman, with male friends.
