Why Indian Men Suddenly Become Feminist After Having a Daughter
Riya Kumari | Jun 10, 2025, 13:01 IST
( Image credit : Pexels, Timeslife )
There’s a strange little magic trick that happens across Indian living rooms, and no, I’m not talking about disappearing remotes or mysteriously refilled whiskey bottles. I’m talking about the sudden, mind-bending transformation of a previously oblivious Indian man into a passionate feminist… the minute he becomes a girl dad. It’s like watching Wolverine discover skincare. Shocking. Confusing. Weirdly touching. But also—seriously, bro? Now?
There’s a strange kind of awakening that happens to Indian men. Not during college. Not while dating. Not even when they get married and share a home with a woman who juggles her job, kitchen, in-laws, and emotional labor like a circus act. No. It happens when a tiny baby girl shows up in his life. And suddenly, this man—who used to roll his eyes at feminism, forward sexist “jokes” on WhatsApp, and interrupt women mid-sentence—starts talking about “empowering daughters.” He’s buying “Girls Can Do Anything” t-shirts, reposting Malala quotes, and calling himself a #girldad. Sweet? Sure. But also… hilarious. And, let’s be honest, a bit late.
1. He Never Saw the Problem, Because He Never Had the Problem
Let’s not act surprised. Most Indian men have grown up in a world that was already tilted in their favour. Nobody policed their clothes. Nobody told them to “be careful” while stepping out. They were never asked to sacrifice careers for marriage, or hush their opinions to “maintain peace at home.”
Life was comfortable, so they assumed it was fair. And then one day, they have a daughter. And the minute they start picturing her walking to school, or speaking up in a classroom, or facing marriage proposals—they get it. All the things women have been saying for decades? Suddenly, it’s not “feminism” anymore. It’s fatherhood.
2. From “Why Do Women Make Everything About Gender?” to “If Any Boy Looks at Her…”
There’s a complete 180 that happens, and it’s almost funny. The same guy who once said, “feminism is just an excuse” is now telling his wife, “We need to raise her strong.” He’s watching ads about women in sports with moist eyes. He’s suddenly interested in school policies, consent talks, and what the new Barbie movie means.
He used to say “men will be men.” Now he says, “If a boy talks to my daughter, he’ll meet my slippers.” Growth is great. Hypocrisy? Also present.
3. He Starts Seeing What Was Always There, Now That It’s in His House
It’s wild how a man can grow up surrounded by women—mother, sister, wife—and still not notice how hard they’re working just to be taken seriously. But the moment his little girl wants to wear shorts to a family wedding and someone says, “ladkiyan aise kapde nahi pehenti”, it hits different.
He sees the unfairness. He hears the tone. He notices how people talk about girls—how they limit them, silence them, guilt them. And for once, he’s not okay with it. Not because he read a feminist book. But because that girl is his.
4. Daughters Don’t Turn Men into Feminists. They Just Make It Personal.
Let’s be clear. His daughter didn’t teach him feminism. She just made him finally feel what others were feeling. It’s not a political shift. It’s emotional. And that’s okay. Empathy has to start somewhere. Even if it’s late. Even if it’s selfish. Because once he feels that fear, that protectiveness, that deep unfairness—it becomes very hard to unsee it. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll start caring about other women too. Not just the one he tucked in last night.
5. But Real Change Means Going Beyond “My Daughter”
The transformation is touching. But it can’t stop there. Because feminism isn’t just about loving your daughter. It’s about unlearning the double standards you’ve always lived by. It means not laughing when someone jokes about a female boss being “too bossy.”
It means respecting your wife’s choices without needing to call her “your queen” on Instagram. It means listening when women speak—even when it’s uncomfortable. And it means standing up not just when it’s your child—but when it’s anyone’s.
Your daughter isn’t your redemption arc. She’s not a project. She’s not your emotional turning point in some movie where the clueless dad becomes a hero. She’s just a kid. Trying to grow up in a world that often sees her as “less.” So if her presence made you more aware, more kind, more conscious—good.
Now take that awareness, and apply it to the rest of the world. Believe other women. Respect their no. Speak up when it’s awkward. Raise your son to cry. Let your daughter be angry. Because feminism shouldn’t need to be born into your house to matter. But if that’s where it starts? Then please—let it not end there.
1. He Never Saw the Problem, Because He Never Had the Problem
Baby
( Image credit : Pexels )
Let’s not act surprised. Most Indian men have grown up in a world that was already tilted in their favour. Nobody policed their clothes. Nobody told them to “be careful” while stepping out. They were never asked to sacrifice careers for marriage, or hush their opinions to “maintain peace at home.”
Life was comfortable, so they assumed it was fair. And then one day, they have a daughter. And the minute they start picturing her walking to school, or speaking up in a classroom, or facing marriage proposals—they get it. All the things women have been saying for decades? Suddenly, it’s not “feminism” anymore. It’s fatherhood.
2. From “Why Do Women Make Everything About Gender?” to “If Any Boy Looks at Her…”
Father
( Image credit : Freepik )
There’s a complete 180 that happens, and it’s almost funny. The same guy who once said, “feminism is just an excuse” is now telling his wife, “We need to raise her strong.” He’s watching ads about women in sports with moist eyes. He’s suddenly interested in school policies, consent talks, and what the new Barbie movie means.
He used to say “men will be men.” Now he says, “If a boy talks to my daughter, he’ll meet my slippers.” Growth is great. Hypocrisy? Also present.
3. He Starts Seeing What Was Always There, Now That It’s in His House
Father and daughter
( Image credit : Pexels )
It’s wild how a man can grow up surrounded by women—mother, sister, wife—and still not notice how hard they’re working just to be taken seriously. But the moment his little girl wants to wear shorts to a family wedding and someone says, “ladkiyan aise kapde nahi pehenti”, it hits different.
He sees the unfairness. He hears the tone. He notices how people talk about girls—how they limit them, silence them, guilt them. And for once, he’s not okay with it. Not because he read a feminist book. But because that girl is his.
4. Daughters Don’t Turn Men into Feminists. They Just Make It Personal.
Child
( Image credit : Pexels )
Let’s be clear. His daughter didn’t teach him feminism. She just made him finally feel what others were feeling. It’s not a political shift. It’s emotional. And that’s okay. Empathy has to start somewhere. Even if it’s late. Even if it’s selfish. Because once he feels that fear, that protectiveness, that deep unfairness—it becomes very hard to unsee it. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll start caring about other women too. Not just the one he tucked in last night.
5. But Real Change Means Going Beyond “My Daughter”
Bedtime
( Image credit : Pexels )
The transformation is touching. But it can’t stop there. Because feminism isn’t just about loving your daughter. It’s about unlearning the double standards you’ve always lived by. It means not laughing when someone jokes about a female boss being “too bossy.”
It means respecting your wife’s choices without needing to call her “your queen” on Instagram. It means listening when women speak—even when it’s uncomfortable. And it means standing up not just when it’s your child—but when it’s anyone’s.
She’s Not Here to Fix You But Maybe She’ll Wake You Up
Now take that awareness, and apply it to the rest of the world. Believe other women. Respect their no. Speak up when it’s awkward. Raise your son to cry. Let your daughter be angry. Because feminism shouldn’t need to be born into your house to matter. But if that’s where it starts? Then please—let it not end there.