Daughter: A Gift of Love

On the occasion of the international Daughter's day, I saw many ladies sharing lovely pictures with their daughters. I can tell that you all are proud of being a mother to a cute girl. 

At the same time, I hear people discussing : 

• OMG, you have two daughters, you do not have a son, Poor lady

• Yours is a single girl child. You should try for a baby boy.

• You are two sisters; you do not have a brother. Poor girls.

• She does not have a brother; The guy who marries will have to take her parents' responsibility; let us not proceed with this marriage proposal.

• Wow. Nice. You are married for two years; may God bless you with a handsome boy.

Why is this notion prevalent in the society that the lady who gives birth to a baby boy is superior to the one having a daughter. I can comprehend that this begins in the home itself. The family is the first place where this discrimination starts. That is so deep-rooted that unconsciously we are being dragged into this. 

As per me, the main factors driving this mindset are :

• Son is the life savior in the old age

• Rape cases and molestations

• Dowry money – nowadays there is a new term for this – 'Jo dena hai apni khushi se aap apni beto ko dijiyega'

Now the question arises, when and how will this mindset change? The simple answer to this is: This has to start right now and within us. 

We all are very proud daughters of our parents. They have never made feel us any less than our fellow boys. They have taught us to be independent, confident, honest, kind, loving, caring, and so on. If we continue with this thought process, definitely a day will come where our future generation will not be pondering about such gender bias and writing about the same. 

Let us pledge on this very day to spread the message: Daughters are the gift of life.