We are taught to conform to gender stereotypes early. But many brave individuals are also challenging them every day through their lived realities. We asked people to share their stories with us. Here are some of the stories we collected. 

Is marriage the obvious step after education?

I come from a village in Bihar but it never stopped me from dreaming for myself.

I saw the females in my family and community being suppressed by men in many ways but I had aspirations. I wanted to be an individual who stood on her own feet. In my Mass Communications Masters, I was one of the only three girls out of thirty-three students in my batch.

Immediately after I finished my studies, my parents started talking about marriage. That was when I told them, I was going to Goa to work as an editor. They were shocked and resisted sending me at first. But I have always been a fighter.  

I fought hard to come to Goa and start working. In my office, I am the only woman working in a team of six.

It has been a year since my move. And today,  my parents see value in my work and my career choice. But I do sympathise with my father because he faces a lot of pressure from the community to marry off his two daughters.