Not Wife Material.
There is a massive conflict that arises when it comes to raising girls to be empowered. This conflict arises from misconstrued notions of man hating or misandry that are often attributed to feminism. Several debates with even my mother about my views in regards to women empowerment are often misconstrued and taken as an agenda against men — and I can’t even blame her, because that is how feminism is being shifted and portrayed in society. However, I promise that my views differ from that of man hating.
In societies where domestic violence or any form of oppression of women is still prevalent, it is crucial that we start raising our girls to be empowered and in the know of all their basic human rights.
Is it culture that makes us believe that women are second-class to men? Is it religion? Or is it culture disguised as religion? Belonging to a culture where girls are raised to be “marriage material” makes me severely upset. It makes me upset that from the moment a baby girl is born, society inflicted gender roles are conditioned into their minds. She is conditioned to not have any hopes and dreams but that of her husbands. Girls are taught from a very young age what it means to be a wife. Not a woman. A wife.
An education is secondary, what lessons really matter are courses of the housewife life 101. Girls are predominantly taught tasks such as; cooking his meals, cleaning his home, doing his laundry, and existing as refined eye candy. Actual education through which they could obtain potential careers is sidelined and is done just as a necessity as to not seem primitive.
Girls should be raised to become highly driven women who should not be trimmed and moulded to fit someone else’s ideal. They should not be forced to create an unrealistic and false portrayal of who they are in order to secure a marriage. They should not have to compromise their opinions and keep their thoughts in check to cushion someone else’s ego.
We must raise our girls with the overt and unquestionable message that their purpose in growing up is to become fiercely independent — emotionally, pragmatically, financially and in every other way possible. Marriage and partnership should not be the foundation but merely just icing on the cake; you can live both with or without it.
Condition your daughter into being so capable that you don’t live your life with fear and worry about her survival without the means of a husband. Rather than investing your savings on her wedding, invest your life savings on providing her with the best possible education. Groom her not be a wife but to be anything she wants to be. Prep her for herself not for her husband, not for her marriage.
Stop teaching your daughters to be damsels in distress, in need of saving, instead teach your daughters what it means to be financially independent and self-sufficient rather than to rely on a man to provide for them. Raise them with the certainty that anything and everything they could ever want and need, they possess the capability to provide for themselves
Make it known that she does not have to succumb and hold a position of inferiority to secure a marriage. Make her feel confident in her ability to make her own path through life, to speak up and express her thoughts and opinions because they are just as important as that of a mans. Make it known that she deserves equal rights, privileges and respect.
