We are so used to a culture in india, where a man provides finance for a woman whether she is his wife or his daughter and in the later years even his mother if he chooses to include her.
Traditionally a womanly surrenders to this arrangement and is dependent throughout her life; as a daughter, for her education and as a wife to her husband after her marriage. As she reaches old age she is then dependent on her son.
This culture in India has changed with today’s generation. Women’s suffrage in India has made a leap with the current generation. More girls execute their choices, more are educated, more women are “allowed” to work and many continue to work after their marriage in the middle and lower classes. Those who do make it to full time employment have several roles to juggle at home. At work many of them face various gender biases.
Women in the upper middle class and upper class are often still told that they do not need to work and are discouraged as the real reason for this is that they should remain at home to serve.
When a woman surrenders and depends on the men in her life for financial support she gives up her “freedom of choice”.
She gives up her freedom of choice in her higher education and employment before and after marriage, if any and therefore gives up her freedom to choose the way she wants to live her life.
Do we as women really want to be free? If a woman in today’s world wants the freedom to choose then she must first finish her education and be employed. Many women in India get an education in order to secure a husband of a higher caliber. They end up also wasting those seats in Colleges and Universities that are scarce and limited and that could have been occupied by a person with a greater need. Their education goes to waste if they do not pursue professional work. Their choices are also controlled by the men in their life.
Freedom of choice for every woman is absolutely essential for her Financial Independence. Her financial independence in turn is very important and crucial for her mental well being. A person who is not free to make individual choices in their life as to their choice of education, choice of work and what to spend on are not free within and therefore are not happy people.
Individual Choice, freedom to study and freedom at work are essential for a woman’s overall well-being. Mental well being is deeply connected and symbiotic with physical well being.
In a household where women are mentally and physically well we can confidently say that she has had the freedom to make her choices in being financially independent in her life. The burden of a girl child then no longer exists and society is also free from having to address with gender based laws and regulations.
As our culture and values of gender based division of labour and the traditional set roles of women are so prominent it is essential that we bring about an awareness and free her mentally from forced surrender and acceptance of such roles that only make her live a life that is financially dependent and mentally under compulsion. It is imperative she knows that she can earn her own money, spend her own money and feel 100% responsible as she is making these choices. We all know that when we spend another’s money we are not as responsible. As human beings we can be responsible only if we make our own choices and only then we can be mentally and physically well!
Let’s all pledge to create awareness in at least one woman who is caught in this web and is not free to make her choices for her education, for her employment,
Let’s take up this initiate for “Happy Women!”
For her financial independence and for her mental and physical overall well being.
Women and Well Being 