I wanted to share a story with you and find out what you people think.
I have a very dear friend and colleague- European, not desi, who has lived a somewhat traumatic life. Divorced parents, brought up by servants, lots of moving around, no emotional stability.
She was at university when she met and a man - and got pregnant. She didn't marry him - for some reason she realised she'd be in even more trouble if she did. After that baby was born (she had been living with him until then) she left him and went out looking for a job, baby in tow. (BTW man no 1 has been in mental hospital a couple times since then) She struggled for months to make ends meet and look after her daughter until she met another man. They fell in love and got married. They have had two more children since then. They are a loving and devoted couple, and have been through many financial problems, but they are one of those couples it is a pleasure to be with. Her husband treats all three children as though they were his own. She is an intelligent, happy, useful member of society.
Because we don't live in a society that condemns unmarried mothers, she was able to keep and bring up her baby. Because she met a man who didn't consider her a "used" piece of goods or an immoral woman, she was able to pick up the pieces and turn her life into somethiong positive and useful and now spends a large portion of her time helping others.
She realises her mistakes and is spending a lot of energy to make sure that her daughter never makes the same mistake.
But I ask myself, if she hadn't been in a liberal tolerant and western society, what would have happened?
I have a very dear friend and colleague- European, not desi, who has lived a somewhat traumatic life. Divorced parents, brought up by servants, lots of moving around, no emotional stability.
She was at university when she met and a man - and got pregnant. She didn't marry him - for some reason she realised she'd be in even more trouble if she did. After that baby was born (she had been living with him until then) she left him and went out looking for a job, baby in tow. (BTW man no 1 has been in mental hospital a couple times since then) She struggled for months to make ends meet and look after her daughter until she met another man. They fell in love and got married. They have had two more children since then. They are a loving and devoted couple, and have been through many financial problems, but they are one of those couples it is a pleasure to be with. Her husband treats all three children as though they were his own. She is an intelligent, happy, useful member of society.
Because we don't live in a society that condemns unmarried mothers, she was able to keep and bring up her baby. Because she met a man who didn't consider her a "used" piece of goods or an immoral woman, she was able to pick up the pieces and turn her life into somethiong positive and useful and now spends a large portion of her time helping others.
She realises her mistakes and is spending a lot of energy to make sure that her daughter never makes the same mistake.
But I ask myself, if she hadn't been in a liberal tolerant and western society, what would have happened?
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