Don't 'let' women live their life - you don't 'own' women to 'let' them

Counterintuitive ideals are tough to beat. You have to battle it consciously and watch how you talk and write. And, the mother of all counterintuitive ideals is, "Letting women live their life."

All these years, women, including me, have been giving the power to their parents, husband and in-laws to 'let' them do things. It's time to change the narrative. It's time to put the agency in the hands of women.

We need to rephrase and create a new counterintuitive ideal.

Women shouldn't be asking permission from anyone to do what they want to do.

Instead of saying "Let me go for higher education," say, "I want to study more and make use of my education to be financially settled."

Instead of saying, "Let me go for job," say, "I want to earn, be financially independent. I don't want my qualifications go to waste."

Instead of saying, "Let me visit my parents," say "I want to go see my parents. I love them as your son does you."

Instead of saying, "Let me help my parents financially," say, "I want to support my parents. If it wasn't for them, your son wouldn't have me as his wife and you won't have me as your DIL. I want to take care of them exactly like how you are expecting your son to take care of you."

And, those wants of women are human rights that deserve honouring. Your culture and old ways of doing things don't count anymore. It's the 21st century.