Are you a Good Daughter?

How good of a daughter are you?

The chubby girl, the pretty woman, the wise child, or the modern lady, are you a good daughter in this unbending, one-directional ruthless society that defines us?

Some of you might have noticed I did not use the word patriarchal to define society. Why? Because most of the time, I feel that its women and men both that bring women down with their venom coated words.

When you are little, you don't notice the words being whispered to you regularly. But soon enough that becomes a way of life. The dress you wear, the way you talk to others or how late you come or go, all these and many more get wired in us. And the moment you do as you wish, you are questioned about your morality, about your upbringing.

My friend could not marry the guy she loved because she was a good daughter. My neighbor had to stop going to the gym because she was a good daughter and focused more on her studies. My mother was a probably good daughter too because she married when she was asked to.

But I am not.

I am not a good daughter. I do as I wish. I value my work more than getting married. I have male friends and I go out with them. I drink and use swear words. I wear short dresses and come home when I wish. I am not a good daughter, not according to this society's order but I am a good human being. I have moral ethics and I value others' opinions and thoughts. I am an independent woman. And I am taught to be caring and loving by my parents towards others. As much as I care about my work and family, I care and love myself. I may not be perfect but I am humble.

So this society may brand me with all the names that they want, I am a good daughter and a good human being.