I'm 33 weeks pregnant, Indian, and have a terribly traditional MIL who lives in Kenya, who claims she is very 'modern.'
This is not a MIL bashing post, she's actually quite lovely, but recently has been always asking how her 'grandson' is doing which is really starting to piss me off. Its a verrrry old and outdated tradition in Indian culture that it makes the family happier to have boys rather than girls, and I'm really surprised that she keeps asking this.
Her daugther, my SIL, has two sons and she never fails to mention it amongst family that she has two sons. My SIL recognises that its a bit weird and always confronts her mum saying that if she had two daughters would she not be as proud or what?! So when yesterday over the phone she asked how her grandson was doing I told her, well I don't really know, you're gonna have to call up your daughter and ask her for yourself! When she asked why, I said, well, you're are asking about your grandson aren't you? She said yes, so I said well call her up and see what your grandsons are up to, it would be nice for her to know you are asking about her children. She then said no, no I meant about your child. To which I replied, well we don't know if its a boy or a girl, it could be a girl as well! I think she then got the message and said 'Well, yes, yes, it could be a girl and you know we don't mind whatever you have', I then gave the phone to my husband, totally miffed, because I don't think she really meant what she said, was she making excuses because she got caught out, or AIBU to be pissed off about this? Should I just put it down to her being set in her ways, because apart from this, she's a very kind and sweet natured person. I just thought that this whole gender discrimination thing was over with and I never thought that I would have to deal with it in my own family.