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When was the last time you heard a girl moving out of her parents’ house? Not because she is getting married, starting a job in another city or living in a hostel, but because she has turned off a considerable age where she could independently live her own lifestyle.

I myself have posted this query and got a fairly small number of encouraging responses. Majority questioned my sane self and the need to think so drastically. The most popular accusation hurled upon me was of being consumed by the American television which to us is the legitimate devil’s advocate. Ironically, for years we let our children watch western channels where children are supposed to work at 16 or even younger age and move out as they turn 18 but in our minds as parents, this concept is only functional in abroad.

Applying the same methods here is not acceptable because it is totally Haram. Nowhere am I advocating that living alone is your key to salvation, but then neither living with your parents is. The considerate ones think that it is about escaping an oppressive ruling front at home. Not at all. It is mainly about your decision to take your life into your own hands, a feature most parents forget to teach their daughters.

The next common question is, what about the safety and security? Let’s imagine a realistic scenario in this situation. You came to this planet, got your desired education, that too if your parents are understanding enough, and then finally you have an internship or a job. Fast forward to the point where you now have enough money to buy or rent a place of your own.

The only thing stopping you now is you being a person of female gender in Pakistan. Isn’t this utter meritocracy? If we say that it’s dangerous then the next question should be why? Why have you created such a society who possess a danger to a female living alone? We have made this whole ‘moving out’ thing so ludicrous of an idea that the individual opting for it start having a psychological warfare.

One can’t make a generalized statement so yes, we have a lot of young, independent women who were raised as confident and fearless but then again, this stigma attached to them moving out is still alive. It’s like our parents didn’t teach us to live alone. We have several cases where overnight stays at friends or late-sittings at office create unnecessary rumpus from society who happens to never be satisfied with anyone.

How dare a woman lives by herself? is what we question. The blatant truth is that living alone doesn’t define a girl’s moral conduct either term her some woman involved in lewd activities.

The entire process of becoming the master of your life helps a person understand the importance of one’s decision. It is more of like a complete freedom environment which most people might consider selfish as girls are supposed to be very attached ad caring towards their family. But it can easily be done while not living with them.

The best example of it is a marriage where the girl shifts to another home or even country but would still be available in case the need arrives. All in all, we as a society need to rise as free-thinking men who would value their privacy and solitude above stereotypical family values and societal structures.