"GDP is the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time. Example - when Karen pays Doug to mow her lawn, that transaction is part of GDP. But if Karen were to marry Doug, the value of mowing will be left out of GDP. Because Doug's service is no longer sold in a market. Thus, when Karen and Doug marry, GDP falls!"
As I came across the definition of GDP, I remembered 23rd February 2009, when India's GDP fell by some lacs. I got married and left my job to shift to Germany and hence, my services were no longer sold in the market!
"What do you do the whole day?" people loved asking this question
"I am learning German" my patent answer
"Oh good, so you found something to invest your time in." a normal reaction on my answer
"Yeah!" my response of 'quit the topic' cut to one word
For me, learning German was not just engaging myself in 'something', but I indeed loved the language. I had been learning it since I was working. While all my colleagues took rest on weekends after a heavy week, I woke up early in the morning to attend my German classes. But in absence of a 'job', all my favourite activities may it be learning German or traveling to new places, photographing, writing short stories, blogging were all considered just a good time-pass for a pitiable housewife.
In due course of the time people saw me contributing to the GDP again. The way of looking at me changed again. But as life took its twists and turns, I wondered how hollow these social frameworks are. Can someone ever be real oneself while trying to fit in there?
Few days ago I read a blog of a friend where she elaborated on a her wonderful experience of giving birth to a child. As I read right from the overwhelming happiness when she first got to know that she is pregnant, to the final moment I was mesmerised by it all, until I reached the last sentence. She concluded her post saying, this is why she advises all the 'careerist' women to have at least one child. I was hugely taken aback. What a strange assumption it was! May be I misunderstood, but did it mean 'careerist' women do not want children? At least in our generation, it will be considered nothing but an ignorant assumption.
All I could understand is nobody is wrong, but only judgmental! The housewives do not 'do' anything or careerist women are 'only' after career are such derogatory and baseless generalizations. I have seen both sides of the life and have experienced how some people, without making a single effort to know the person, form a quick opinion.
She is a housewife?? ohh, pity her!
She took some courageous decisions for her career? hmm, she is careless about her family!
I remember a dear friend of mine whose husband is an army man. She left her two year old girl with her parents to pursue higher studies abroad for an year. For me it was a very admirable decision and I used to salute her for this. I could see how deeply she missed her child and wanted to go back to her as soon as possible. But once she told me the reactions of people on her decision - 'how horrible, I would never do this with my child!'. Today she is happily back with her child and with a glorious career. I am sure her girl will be very proud of her highly educated mother when she understands it in the future. But those moments when this decision is being taken and one is about to embark on that journey, these hopeless judgements only work as a stimulator to prove them wrong!
Can some decisions, some steps or moreover, the current state of a person really tell what s/he is? No! But some strong believers of the typical social framework take pride in their inability to cross it. I look at them and wonder, is it really a pride or jealousy??
In due course of the time people saw me contributing to the GDP again. The way of looking at me changed again. But as life took its twists and turns, I wondered how hollow these social frameworks are. Can someone ever be real oneself while trying to fit in there?
Few days ago I read a blog of a friend where she elaborated on a her wonderful experience of giving birth to a child. As I read right from the overwhelming happiness when she first got to know that she is pregnant, to the final moment I was mesmerised by it all, until I reached the last sentence. She concluded her post saying, this is why she advises all the 'careerist' women to have at least one child. I was hugely taken aback. What a strange assumption it was! May be I misunderstood, but did it mean 'careerist' women do not want children? At least in our generation, it will be considered nothing but an ignorant assumption.
All I could understand is nobody is wrong, but only judgmental! The housewives do not 'do' anything or careerist women are 'only' after career are such derogatory and baseless generalizations. I have seen both sides of the life and have experienced how some people, without making a single effort to know the person, form a quick opinion.
She is a housewife?? ohh, pity her!
She took some courageous decisions for her career? hmm, she is careless about her family!
I remember a dear friend of mine whose husband is an army man. She left her two year old girl with her parents to pursue higher studies abroad for an year. For me it was a very admirable decision and I used to salute her for this. I could see how deeply she missed her child and wanted to go back to her as soon as possible. But once she told me the reactions of people on her decision - 'how horrible, I would never do this with my child!'. Today she is happily back with her child and with a glorious career. I am sure her girl will be very proud of her highly educated mother when she understands it in the future. But those moments when this decision is being taken and one is about to embark on that journey, these hopeless judgements only work as a stimulator to prove them wrong!
Can some decisions, some steps or moreover, the current state of a person really tell what s/he is? No! But some strong believers of the typical social framework take pride in their inability to cross it. I look at them and wonder, is it really a pride or jealousy??
