Oppression Of Women In My Culture

“When men are oppressed, it's a tragedy. When women are oppressed, it's a tradition”~ Letty Cottin Pogrebin.
Growing up in a household where girls were not permitted to go to school and were frequently advised to learn house chores and take care of younger siblings, which they would do once they got married, was the sole purpose of women's existence in my culture. Where women were used for breeding, getting an education was viewed as defying society's unwritten rules. Unfortunately, unable to withstand the judgement and pressure of society any further, my mother gave in and got married off at the age of seventeen, in 1997. The end of one story, gave birth to another one, in 1998.
Continuing from where one unfinished story

was compelled to an end, a new chapter began. Last summer, however, a visit back to my mom’s country almost led to writing a similar ending to the new chapter. With my mom’s support, I was able to escape the same ending. I came upon the realization that even in the 21st century, certain traditions never changed- Woman were, and still are viewed as mere objects. This isn't true for the entire country, but many parts of that country unequivocally take after these decades old traditions. What is significantly all the more exasperating is that these conventions are so profoundly embedded in the society that they are viewed as standard, by men and women alike. Women are ignorant of their oppression, of their denied rights, of their freedom. Women have legal equality, but it is certainly not practiced in the society.
The unfortunate incident consolidated with my mother’s past, enormously influenced my decision to obtain a joint degree in Women's Studies and Law. My very own father made the decision to get me married off last summer to somebody who I had never seen or met before in my life. In the male- dominated society, my consent and opinion held no weight. Having suffered the pain and torment, my mother completely comprehended my state and assisted me in escaping the hell I was about to be put through. However, the scars are everlasting and the pain of loosing my father to the society still dwells. And I was left with one question- “Why did a father decide to take after the standards and conventions set by society over his daughter?”
With this overwhelming question, I arrived back to the U.S., and have ever since been aimlessly looking for an answer. I fail to understand how all the love my father was once showed just all of a sudden vanished. Where did it all go? In this possibly endless search, I have come upon the realization that just like me, there are many other daughters who have experienced the same fate as me, and there are many more who will in the future. Once married, these women will probably not be able to break the chains of society and fight back, however, I need to.
By obtaining a degree in women's studies, I will be able to understand the factors that influence and shape a woman's life and why societies have always bolstered the oppression of women throughout history and have formulated certain mindsets towards women, such as staying home and taking care of children, doing household chores, and so on. I need to educate myself on why the issue women inequality initiated and why it still pertains to today's society regardless of the laws ensuring gender equality. I would like to obtain a law degree in conjunction with a graduate degree in women and gender studies to further protect women's rights and advocate for gender equality.