I asked this question a few days ago in a Twitter space.For those who aren't familiar with Twitterspace.This is a new feature of Twitter that allows Twitter users to use voice to communicate with each other on topics of their choice.
A few days ago I held a space on this question. Contrary to my expectations, dozens of people participated in this space.Many of them also came to the mic.All but one speaker said they would not want to live their mother's life at any cost.I found the tone of each speaker heavy.My question made people think and understand a lot.A speaker could not even finish his speech in a rush of emotions.Sorry, they left.
If you were asked to live your mother's life, would you live her life?
I had nothing to say in response to most of the stories.These were the few stories that the patriarchy has left in the destiny of our women.
Space begins with the story of a speaker's mother.His mother had a second marriage with his father.He had a son from his first marriage.
At the time of the marriage, his father had promised to keep the child with him, but only six months after the marriage, his heart sank.He ordered his wife to leave her son at his parents' house.
Storie No.1:
The speaker said that he had seen his mother yearning for her son all her life.She was forced by her husband.She could not even express her love openly to her son.She could not be bothered about it in front of everyone.Helping him in any matter was a long way off.It was up to her husband to go to his parents' house and meet his son.He spent his whole life in this misery.
Storie No.2:
The female speaker said she could feel her mother's pain but could do nothing to alleviate it.The power in the house was with his father and with that power he considered himself the master of all their lives.
She said she did not want anyone to put pressure on her life.Just as her father did not realize her mother's feelings and kept her on the bridge all her life.
Storie No.3:
The next few stories were like that. One speaker said his mother faced two types of patriarchy.One is what every woman faces, the other is the patriarchy of Pashtun culture.Which binds the women there to lifelong outdated traditions.His mother was married at the age of fourteen.Reading was not allowed before.
After marriage, they had no control over their lives.Her job was simply to do housework, to please her husband and to have children every year.
He saw his mother bowing before the powerful all her life.When life gave him a chance to choose a different path for himself.It was his mother who told him to choose that path and live his life on his own terms.
Storie No.4:
One speaker said that if her mother got a chance to live her life again and get an extra 20 years in return.She would also refuse to live her life again.
Storie No.5:
A speaker said he asked his three-year-old son the same question before coming to the mic, but he refused to live his life.He told them that Mama used to scold you.I don't want to be scolded so much.
Storie No.6:
Listening to the sub-speakers in this Twitter space, I was just sorry, for the mothers of all of us whose lives have become the eyes of the patriarchy.This outdated thinking did not allow her to do what she wanted to do.Many women did not even get a chance to know their desires.They all felt sorry for him but there was nothing they could do.Those in power were thieves intoxicated with power.
However, these helpless women did not allow us to bow down to this society and its thinking.They gave us power that was never given to them.They broke the cycle for us that those before them could not break for them.
If they had the opportunity, most of us would have said yes instead.
0 Comments