Growing up as a girl, we have been told to walk, talk or sit in certain ways. “Proper ladies” are supposed to be elegant and immaculate—incapable of pooping, burping or smelling bad. This week, we talk to six women who tell us of the boundaries the hate and chose to ignore.
“My dad always told me that girls need to be soft spoken. I was not allowed to raise my voice around the house, let alone use any swear words—which my brothers would casually throw around every now and then.”- Anika, 24
“Throughout my college years, I always watched boys running after the girls. I never quite understood why though. There was this guy in my Economics class that I really liked and I wanted to approach him. But my friends said not to—they thought I should wait for him to ask me out, instead of me asking him out. Apparently girls aren't supposed to make the first move. - Anamika, 27
“Barbies or kitchen play-sets never intrigued me. I wanted to play football with the neighbouring boys. I really liked how they'd run back and forth to get hold of the ball and find sneaky ways to score goals. I could feel the excitement and the anticipation in the air as I watched them play. But when I went to high school, my sports coach shook her head and said 'No, it's not a sports for girls!'”- Tamanna, 22
“I was always told to sit with my legs crossed. But, I would sit with them scattered wide open—I just find it a great way to unwind. I even remember getting beaten up once by my mom, she said 'Don't make this a habit, that's not how girls are supposed to sit.”- Sadia, 26
“Why do people snore? I don't know. I guess it's not something you have any control over. It keeps my husband up all night. He says it's a very masculine thing to do.” - Shahnaz, 33
“I have a lot of body hair and hardly get the time to clean them. In all honesty, I just don't have the patience, or sometimes the desire to do it. My family, friends or even random strangers would give me weird looks as soon as they'd notice my arms. One day a random guy in class walked upto me and said 'You know you have very hairy arms for a girl. If you were in Hollywood, they'd cast you for Planet of the Apes.'”- Bidya, 23
“Throughout my college years, I always watched boys running after the girls. I never quite understood why though. There was this guy in my Economics class that I really liked and I wanted to approach him. But my friends said not to—they thought I should wait for him to ask me out, instead of me asking him out. Apparently girls aren't supposed to make the first move. - Anamika, 27
“Barbies or kitchen play-sets never intrigued me. I wanted to play football with the neighbouring boys. I really liked how they'd run back and forth to get hold of the ball and find sneaky ways to score goals. I could feel the excitement and the anticipation in the air as I watched them play. But when I went to high school, my sports coach shook her head and said 'No, it's not a sports for girls!'”- Tamanna, 22
“I was always told to sit with my legs crossed. But, I would sit with them scattered wide open—I just find it a great way to unwind. I even remember getting beaten up once by my mom, she said 'Don't make this a habit, that's not how girls are supposed to sit.”- Sadia, 26
“Why do people snore? I don't know. I guess it's not something you have any control over. It keeps my husband up all night. He says it's a very masculine thing to do.” - Shahnaz, 33
“I have a lot of body hair and hardly get the time to clean them. In all honesty, I just don't have the patience, or sometimes the desire to do it. My family, friends or even random strangers would give me weird looks as soon as they'd notice my arms. One day a random guy in class walked upto me and said 'You know you have very hairy arms for a girl. If you were in Hollywood, they'd cast you for Planet of the Apes.'”- Bidya, 23