Its not a rant
I don’t think me being a lawyer is any achievement. I became one because I pursued my studies to the logical end. School, college, internship, campus placement, applying for job and getting a job with a litigator and voila I became a practicing litigator who also goes to Supreme Court. But I don’t think that is an achievement. However, it is considered as such because now when my parents (and I have some ten set of parents) introduce me to new people who I don’t already know (which are few only because I avoid them at all times) introduce me as "and she is our daughter and she is a lawyer at Supreme Court". Firstly, they are NOT interested in this small talk. Secondly, I barely work at Supreme Court. I concentrate on arbitration and that does not take me to Supreme Court, rather to Conference Rooms or Arbitration Institutions. Thirdly, why am I not just their daughter but also a lawyer who works at "Supreme Court". They never introduce their respective son as “a business man” or “good for nothing” or “failed class 12th”.
Its been bugging me and i know why. Because to me it sounds like the introduction is their way of compensating for the fact that I am accompanying them as their daughter rather than someone else’s daughter-in-law. Also, they do somehow think that me becoming a lawyer is an achievement, that it is so unimaginable that their daughter is working, and working as a lawyer for that.
I have an issue with both these thoughts. Because both is limiting me. Its presupposing things about me, which I do not want to live with. It presupposes that me being single is fine because I am a lawyer at Supreme Court. It presupposes that I want to be identified as a lawyer, I don't. There are days when I have to struggle with the knowledge that I am single. There are days when I question myself as a lawyer. And these days are not once in a while; they are as often as the calm which is just more visible.
And so, the introduction sounds to me like an excuse for me being where I am, rather than an achievement. I guess.
Its been bugging me and i know why. Because to me it sounds like the introduction is their way of compensating for the fact that I am accompanying them as their daughter rather than someone else’s daughter-in-law. Also, they do somehow think that me becoming a lawyer is an achievement, that it is so unimaginable that their daughter is working, and working as a lawyer for that.
I have an issue with both these thoughts. Because both is limiting me. Its presupposing things about me, which I do not want to live with. It presupposes that me being single is fine because I am a lawyer at Supreme Court. It presupposes that I want to be identified as a lawyer, I don't. There are days when I have to struggle with the knowledge that I am single. There are days when I question myself as a lawyer. And these days are not once in a while; they are as often as the calm which is just more visible.
And so, the introduction sounds to me like an excuse for me being where I am, rather than an achievement. I guess.
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