MARRIAGE: A GATEWAY TO FREEDOM OR A CAGE FOREVER?

Girls are often told from a very young age how different life would be after marriage. Every time a girl asks for something that her family disapproves of, the answer is always “You can do whatever you want after marriage”. But is marriage really a gateway to freedom for women?

Radha, 23 years old, married to Raghu tells us “I got married as soon as I turned 18. My parents did not let me study further; they told me this is the right age to get married. It took me a few years to convince my husband and in-laws but eventually they allowed me to study further” Radha completed her graduation in Hindi this year. Though Radha’s husband was supportive of her educational journey, this is not always the case. Anukriti is a 26-year-old housewife. As she shares her struggles and hardships after marriage,

“Life was much easier when I was single” she says, “There were rough times with my parents as well but at least fewer people were involved in the drama”. Anukriti believes that she lost agency over her life as she got married. As families got involved, her life choices became everyone’s but her own. Everything from her work status to her clothes came under extreme scrutiny. While ‘freedom’ can mean differently for different people; Radha’s perception of freedom might be very different from that of Anukriti’s, what remains constant is the idea of one’s agency over their life No other human being should be a woman's ticket to live life the way she wants. For some people getting married may open doors to a happier life while it may shut all doors of possibilities for others