KARACHI:
We talk about marriage as if it is the beginning of a beautiful life and it can be. But somewhere along the way, society has turned marriage into a contract where women are expected to give endlessly and ask for almost nothing in return.
A woman wakes up early, prepares food, cleans the house, takes care of the children, remembers their needs, manages the household, supports her husband, and often carries the emotional weight of the entire family. When she is tired, she is told that this is her duty. When she asks for help, she is sometimes told that she is failing as a wife or mother.
Why is cooking called a woman’s duty instead of a household responsibility? Why is raising children treated as a mother’s job when children have two parents? Why is a woman’s sacrifice expected, but a man’s participation praised as if it were a favour? There is also a form of labour that cannot be seen the labour of constantly adjusting.
In Balochistan, where family and tradition hold deep importance, we should also question the expectations that turn women’s sacrifices into obligations. A woman should not have to lose her education, ambitions, identity or peace simply to prove that she is a good wife or mother. Marriage should be a partnership, not a lifetime assignment given to one person.
We need to change the way we understand marriage. A woman’s sacrifice should be respected, but it should never be demanded simply because she is a woman. Let us build families in Balochistan where daughters are encouraged to dream, wives are treated as partners, and mothers are not expected to carry everything alone. Tradition should evolve with compassion, and marriage should be built on shared responsibility, dignity and understanding.
Zeebjan Akther
Turbat
