life STORIES of WOMEN & GIRLS around THE WORLD

“I'm good at sports. I could have been able to do more in sports but after state level competitions, my family never allowed me to go for nationals. I kept blaming my family for it. 

I'm good at studies as well but 5 years ago, I lost my father and everything fell apart within seconds so I was not able to get into my dream college. Again I blamed that situation.
After beginning my Bachelors, I just decided one thing for my own sake, "stop playing this blame game". If it really matters, get it done anyhow, against all the odds of the society.”

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“Being a woman in my part of the world, is like hiding that you bleed. Hiding that you have male friends. Hiding that you possess a pair of breasts. Hiding your skin (every inch of it.) Hiding all of your relationships. Hiding your love. Hiding the fact that you've been raped. Hiding your emotions. Hiding your tears... Hiding your tears. Hiding your anguish. Hiding your existence as an individual.

Here (in India), it's like being someone's something - Father's daughter. Husband's wife. Brother's sister. No, you're not you. You're someone's something over here.”

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“My world was entirely different, it revolved around dance, reading and spending time thinking and etc,.  And years later being a cadet at NCC which is completely against my family's wish, I achieved the highest rank as a senior under officer.  Then  I dreamt of joining the Indian Army, for which I was emotionally forbidden... My heart screamed a lot, telling me to get out from home, to run away to achieve my dreams, none of those really worked.. I was bounded to emotional bonds more.

Not being able to adjust to the traditions, and also not being able to come out of the cage, having no one around to scream my heart out, I nearly became depressed.”

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