The new Indian woman has more choices than ever, today. And nowhere is that more clear than in her relationships - or lack of them. Today, women who choose to stay single, cohabit, or date casually, are no longer seen as social misfits or rebels. Nor is opting out of the traditional route of marriage and motherhood seen as a defiance of the system, but a very real choice that Indian women are making for very real reasons.
Forced marriages, dowry
deaths, abuse, and torture are only a few of the reasons the reasons
that so many Indian women attempt to escape the gilded cage of matrimony. With women acquiring more freedom and independence, connection and companionship are now the mainstay of healthy relationships, as opposed to dependence and duty.
The age of "sham marriages" - bonds forged out of sheer necessity, obligation, or family pressure - is coming to an end. Increasingly Indian women (and men) are choosing to date, and wait, for the right person to come along.
In this issue, we analyse the pros and cons of these new lifestyle choices. From the hard questions, like whether living-in is liberating or harmful to marriage, to the benefits and drawbacks of staying single, and the repercussions of casual sex, our feature articles cover the gamut of relationship choices that Indian women are making today.
The underlying message that comes through, is that, no matter what choices a woman makes, the important thing is that she goes into it with complete self-awareness, and for reasons that benefit her - in the long-term.
Enjoy this issue and do leave your comments.
Priya Florence Shah
Editor, Naaree.com
Naaree
