Being An Indian Woman Is
.....your grandmother telling you that she and her sisters were considered "rocks" by her father
.....knowing she wanted to become a professor but was unable to because of marriage
.....her saying that she had to come running when her husband called and couldn't "yell"
.....how her mother married young and had 9 kids (no birth control)
.....how most of your female ancestors must have lived this way
.....when your mother serves your father first and calls him the head of the house
.....when your mother tells you that women have to be happy for the men getting their Thread Ceremony when you ask why you're not getting one
.....when there is an emphasis on your beauty, height, weight and skin tone and being beautiful is a "must"
.....remembering being forced into uncomfortable Indian clothes at 6 years old and made to pose for pictures like putting finger on chin??
....your mother telling you to learn cooking because women need to know it
....parents making fun of ghar jamai and calling you "paraya dhan"
....father saying that if he were a woman, he would focus on being beautiful so marriage would be to someone $$$
....mother being obedient & submissive to father
....father always driving and mother in passenger seat
....fearful & unconfident mother who cares a little too much about pleasing others and what others think...similar to lots of Indian women who slave away in the kitchen and serving their in laws
....Kanyadaan being written into the wedding ceremony
....even now, women moving to their husband's house
....not being able to have your own ideas or be yourself in front of relatives (like mentioning this rebellious blog :p)
....mother telling you to work part time after kids because you'll obviously be the one taking care of them
and many more.
But being an Indian Woman is also about having the power to shape the culture and future for the better.
