A 13-year-old girl refuses to obey her parents and becomes a national hero.

[sharedfastlane]

Originally Posted by Raven

But you must remember we are judging through western eyes. That match may have made the difference between living in a decent manner or abject poverty for that family. It wasnt so long ago that we ourselves hoped for a decent match to marry out of peasantry. We indentured ourselves to leave the country, and we had no say in our lives as women.

Yes, but hopefully the path she has now chosen, stood up for, will lead to a better life. It IS difficult if her family were depending on her in that way and if that's how it has been for ever, but things have to change. Perhaps they will share in the good things her life may bring.

[AussiePam]

There have always been feisty women, everywhere. This one has somehow succeeded in getting heard. If she manages, with UNICEF's help, to become a teacher, as she hopes, and return to her village, she'll be helping her family and her village to combat some of the causes of abject poverty. Hopefully, when she does marry, her children will not only survive, but will be literate and have wider life choices.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by AussiePam

There have always been feisty women, everywhere. This one has somehow succeeded in getting heard. If she manages, with UNICEF's help, to become a teacher, as she hopes, and return to her village, she'll be helping her family and her village to combat some of the causes of abject poverty. Hopefully, when she does marry, her children will not only survive, but will be literate and have wider life choices.

Sounds like a good plan to me! That one works!