Was anyone else raised being told women should not be ambitious?
I was raised in a house where ambition was considered a dirty word for women. The logic was that ambitious and "money minded" women will lose their "character" while they look to get ahead in their careers. Losing "character" was the worst thing to happen to a girl and no one would marry her later apparently.
I was also told that I should only work in government jobs because I will be sexually exploited in private companies.
I was encouraged to only pursue courses in girls colleges and I was told to only pursue arts courses. Engg/medicine/law was for boys apparently and arts/science was for girls.
I was forced to learn singing because apparently all good girls have to learn to sing classical music. I was encouraged to try to have a career as a carnatic music singer,but not as a doctor/engineer because those professions would mean I can't take care of my house after AM.
The main crux of the issue is that I was not encouraged to have a career for two reasons.
- I will not be able to take care of home if I had a hectic career.
- I will have to work/mingle with men and may lose "character".