A daughter is too often treated not as an individual with dreams and agency, but as a commodity whose value is measured by how well she can be 'settled'. Her education, particularly in the medical field, is often viewed as an investment to enhance marriage prospects. She becomes most 'desirable for marriage' when she earns the title of 'doctor', not because of her ability to heal or serve society, but because it enhances her worth in the marriage market.

Daughter is a consignment to another household - a belief often expressed in the saying, beti to paraya dhan hoti hai. Before marriage, she is considered the responsibility of her father; after marriage, she is handed over to her husband's family. Her career and professional identity are thus treated as secondary to this perceived transfer of responsibility.

Ironically, fathers often justify spending millions on their daughters' medical education by claiming they want them to be independent, secure and capable of serving the nation........

© The Express Tribune