It is undoubtedly a
fact that educated women spend a better life. And the benefits to education are
not restricted to being financially strong and living a good life,
better-educated women are more likely to
have healthier, better-educated kids. So today’s parents are
providing good education to their daughters and encouraging them to unleash
their potential. However, is this only reason parents are working hard to
educate their daughters?
I
feel, with a booming economy, increasing groom prices and dowry harassment have
become the weighty reasons why parents are trying their best to provide higher
education to their daughters. I am not saying that parents don’t want to see
their daughters settled and financially strong even when they are not married.
But Dowry is still prevalent in many parts of our country. Still, happens where
parents claim that their daughter is being killed by her in-laws for dowry.
A few days back only I read the news where a 20 years old girl in Odisha was killed
by her in-laws and the reason was given dowry. Although, the investigation is
still in progress.
I
always believe that every custom made by our ancestors have a reason behind it.
So I think in the early days dowry used to be an institution in which gifts and
presents were given to a girl at the time of her marriage when she was leaving
her parents’ home and join her husband’s family. But, in course of time, it has
become a crude reality resulting in female killing, suicide, bride-burning and
other cruelties. Strangely due to culture and society pressure, if a girl is
not working (not earning money), parents feel low and count it a reason to
agree for dowry. On the other side if she is working and is independent, parents
raise their voice against giving dowry. The equation of marriage has
become “good education = marriage in good family” now.
I
find today’s parents willing to educate their girls and in most of the cases
want them to pursue jobs so that they can fight with this evil practice of
dowry (and many other). Also, they know that educated girls are less likely to
be victims of domestic and sexual violence or to tolerate it in their families.
Although a reality is parents often do not directly benefit if their daughter
is working and earning money. But for the sake of her future security and
peaceful life, they spend all their savings in providing higher education to
their daughters. The flip side of the coin is harassment of girls even being in
so-called good families. But in those cases, if a girl is educated and aware of
her rights, she seeks help legally and doesn’t suffer in silence and waits for
better time.
I
know people claim that there is a fall in dowry cases now and even false
complaints are coming. I am not denying them. However, in this post, I am not
trying to judge and comment on how people are using/misusing laws given by the
government. I am trying to convey my thoughts why girl education is becoming
important for parents, and unsafe-unhappy marriages are unexceptional reasons.
For such girls living in an unhappy or abusive relationship seems better than
living on the streets without money. And getting education empowers girls to
take control of their lives, their families, and their future!
“The
fastest way to change society is to mobilize the women of the world.” —
Charles Malikleo.
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