Kiran Bedi on Marriage: Women Need Support, Independence and Shared Responsibilities

Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has spoken about the emotional and social expectations placed on women after marriage. She said that while weddings and celebrations are often portrayed as joyful occasions, leaving a familiar and supportive home can be an emotionally difficult experience for a woman. Bedi also questioned the expectation that a newly married woman should treat her in-laws exactly like her own parents, saying such expectations may not always be practical.

Bedi stressed the importance of discussing careers and household responsibilities before marriage. She suggested that working couples consider domestic help and share household responsibilities so that women do not have to give up their careers. She also highlighted the importance of financial independence and said women should have the confidence and means to make decisions about their own lives. If a woman feels she is not receiving adequate support from her husband, Bedi said she should not be judged for choosing to live with her parents, particularly when she wants to support and care for them.