Naseem: Favorite Piece in the Collection

Initially, the vibrant colors of this painting drew me in. I was interested in the modern interpretation of traditional Indian artwork. The title is my favorite aspect of this piece because it illustrates how women are viewed as commodities, particularly in Asian and Middle Eastern cultures. Through the system of arranged marriage, women are often treated as tools for status, pleasure, labor, etc. The act of being given away by one’s father to another family is romanticized to the point that it is seen as a woman’s primary purpose. In the painting, this glorification is shown with a yellow halo surrounding the household that the daughter is being taken to. The title Daughters Are for Others implies that daughters are not treated as an integral part of the family, rather they are to be primed for giving away.