When a mother has a baby girl, people sometimes respond with comments like, “Don’t worry, maybe you’ll have a boy next time,” as if having a daughter is somehow disappointing. These remarks often reflect outdated beliefs or personal biases, rather than any real issue. The truth is, daughters are just as valuable and bring their own unique joy to a family. The connection between daughters and their parents—especially with their fathers—can be incredibly strong and meaningful. Every child is a gift, regardless of gender.

Let me be clear — I don’t associate myself with feminist ideology. But I also believe that expecting women to suffer in silence, to sacrifice endlessly without emotional support or understanding, is something I can’t accept.

We live in a time where women still feel pressured to marry based on societal expectations, not emotional connection. Many go through heartbreak, yet are expected to carry on — often having child after child in homes where love and care may be missing. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s real.

Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married Bibi Khadija (RA), a widow who proposed to him. Islam honored women and gave them the right to choose. But somewhere along the way, culture and customs overshadowed that message. Today, a woman taking a step forward for herself is often misunderstood or unfairly judged.

This isn’t about blaming anyone. It’s about rethinking what we’ve normalized.

Women deserve respect, choice, and emotional safety — just like men do. We need to build a society where both are treated with fairness and dignity. It’s not about one being above the other — it’s about walking side by side.

I will always be grateful to my angel of a father. He wasn’t a typical Baloch father — he gave me freedom, respect, and unwavering admiration. He loved me with a kindness and understanding that shaped who I am. Since his passing, I’ve felt permanently deprived of that kind of love and comfort. He was my safe place, my constant — the one I could turn to no matter how hard life got. My friend, my strength, my father — my everything.

I truly wish more fathers could be like him — trusting, loving, and always holding a soft spot for their daughters, no matter what.