Why Are Women Who Make Their Own Choices Called Rebellious?

Our whole life is nothing but checklists, attend school, perform well and get into a good college, choose a career that pays well, get married and so on. Society has very clearly defined how are we supposed to operate. The worst part is that if we don’t we're judged. Women who challenge social norms are often called ‘rebellious’ just because our ideas do not resonate with that of society in general. But is rebellious a word loosely used to call women "difficult" or "brazen" or simply unsanskaari?

Are we rebellious?

All women at some point in time have faced the constant nagging about how this is not how you are supposed to behave, or do things or make certain decisions (or make any decisions on your own at all). Remember when you were being stubborn when your parents were not letting you stay out late, or the time when you were caught hanging out with a boy you likes? Although these are just little things in a long list of things for which society is quite quick to judge you. All of us at some point in our life have been in this situation.

Society has very clearly defined how are we supposed to operate. The worst part is that if we don’t we're judged.

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It might have been the little decisions like getting a tattoo or the big ones like putting your career before your marriage. But these things have led others to point a finger at us and say how we have always had to go out of our way and how rebellious are we. The question that I want to ask is, who set these standards to define us, to limit us? Why is making unconventional choices termed as ‘rebellious’? Why should women always struggle to fit in?

Making our decisions

Though we have moved forward in a lot of aspects when it comes to letting women make their own decisions and respecting their choices the patriarchal society lags behind. The whole thing makes them very insecure. Society raises questions and doubts against these women and uses shame as a tool against them. But soon we will have to address this question and give women the freedom that they deserve and not judge them for using their freedom as their ticket out.

The question that I want to ask is who set these standards to define us, to limit us? Why is making unconventional choices termed as ‘rebellious’?

Also Read: Risk and Rebellious Women- Some Thoughts After Seeing Ocean’s Eight

Raising educated daughters is partially ineffective if they are not allowed to exercise their right to choose and live their lives on their terms. It is women's right to choose what career they want to pursue, person they want to marry, what clothes they want to wear, how late they want to stay out. If demanding these rights seems rebellion to you then so be it. It is only the rebellious who bring in a social change after all.

Shreya is an intern with SheThePeople.TV. The views expressed are the author's own.