In our society, single women are subjected to constant pressure to settle down more than men. It is not odd to see women from their late teens onwards being pressured to get married. Young and unmarried women are reminded about their biological ticking clocks. This pressure comes from various quarters – mothers, grandparents, aunties, family friends and well-wishers.
This constant reminder to settle down can be quite disconcerting. The pressure can lead to a girl not taking her time to evaluate the “husband material” with a clear head and marry the wrong person just to escape the questions. This is not fair. Women should not be made to think marriage is so important that they find it difficult to imagine another life path.
Despite the consideration of the “biological clock” – a term people use to describe a fall in fertility associated with increasing age, getting married and the time to get married should be left to a woman to decide without pressure.
Even when a girl finds that all their friends and colleagues are getting married, she should take a hold of her emotions and feelings to know that – “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” – Henry David Thoreau
Not everyone needs to be married to be happy in life. Many of us know quite a number of unhappy married couples whose lives would be much more meaningful and fulfilled if they were not married.
For unmarried women, it is important not to get into a state of anxiety to get married as soon as possible because of the pressure. You should get into a mindset that helps you to not feel overly affected by the pressure because, ultimately, it’s your decision whether you get married or not. It is not really any of the business of your relations, friends or well-wishers, even though you can take on board their concerns, nagging and opinions. But at the end of the day, it is up to you to decide if any of your relationships ends up in marriage and when that should be. Don’t let the pressure lead you to take a decision you may live to regret.