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From Our Parents’ World to Ours
The role of women has changed, but have we acknowledged It?
My daily conversations with my mom often revolve around how the world is evolving — new career paths, different kinds of businesses, and the opportunities people have today. But they usually end with her saying, “You all are smart; my generation wasn’t.”
Mom, the world has changed!
She got married at 19 and had two kids by 23. Now, three decades later — (no, this isn’t a logical reasoning puzzle about our ages!) — she still believes she isn’t smart enough to understand today’s world. No matter how much I try to boost her confidence, she hesitates to learn new things. This, despite being a double graduate — something that held great value in the ’80s.
At 23, I wasn’t even married and barely knew how to cook. But she had already built a life around responsibilities, sacrificing so much for us. Her strength was undeniable — when I faced eve-teasing as a teenager, she stood up for me with the ferocity of Goddess Kaali, fiercely confronting the man. And yet, today, I see that same woman struggle to make simple decisions, like purchasing clothes for herself.
