Stepping into Motherhood -objectification reinstated??

Our country celebrates the birth of a child in a big way; celebrations range from functions to gifts to relatives’ advices to the new parents, more so the new mother. The woman - the source of this joy is however often forgotten to be talked about.

From an early age, our society determines the levels of natural progression in a woman's life..even for today's so called modern woman – the chronology remains: education, professionalism, marriage and child birth..the steps that are said to “complete” a woman (are we born incomplete??) The compromises she makes through this journey are a socially pronounced way of life for her..If she doesn't make these compromises she s categorized as a misfit..The biggest disappointment is that the educationally elitist modernists in our society advocate these “compromises and adjustments” for a better “happy” family life. This, in itself shows how far we progressed or shall I say regressed as a society.

A pertinent question might be what if a woman wants to chose her own natural progressions in life and not fit into a preset mould that a society, or a family or a spouse dictates? I don’t have an answer to this but I would love to have this answered..

Stepping into motherhood is considered to be one of the most pious experiences of a woman’s life by our society. It’s the beginning of a new life for a child and a mother.. well, why not a father?.. The families and extended families are full of advices for the new mother..the do’s and don’t’s .. not so subtle recommendations that the woman’s life is in for a complete change and that she will be required to make a lot more “compromises”..that word again

Is it that the society objectifies the woman..sets a mould and expects her to fit into it..even if she fumbles she needs to fit.. from accepting her duties and responsibilities as a new mother ..to feeling elated about being given this opportunity in life ..to multiplying her capacity to multi-task as a daughter in law, wife and mother.. to giving her equally cherished career a back seat because that is what’s tagged as normal?  

I have a few questions for no one in particular and everyone at large.. what is so pious about dictating preconceived terms for a woman’s life? Deciding that she needs to walk a set path to attain completeness?

Statistics dictate that every third female in our country has at some stage in her life undergone harassment or molestation..i guess these statistics might be skewed (might have been fabricated by some regressive elitists) as every female I have met so far has undergone some form of harassment .. at home, on the road, at the workplace etc.. some are fortunate to escape with only lewd comments and gestures.. others..well, not so fortunate.

At a time when she has just entered motherhood and is unhappy about things at large (the hormones speaking) and her body in specific.. the woman’s lactative parts still remain a visual delight for random men on the road..while she is holding her child.. does that qualify as a part of the pious experience?

Like at all other stages in her life.. is the woman objectified even as a mother? It is widely accepted that the biggest primary instinct of even the lowest form of life is that of self preservation. If as an educated, independent woman who can boast of being a part of the privileged class of our society I am unable to prevent this objectification of myself.. what about the millions of others who aren’t as privileged? …what about the innocent female life I have given birth to..can I promise and guarantee that she will not be objectified? Probably not..

Is that not my biggest failure as a woman ..as a mother..