Once upon a time, daughters were perceived as a burden on their parents if they were not ‘married-off’ before a certain age, or not at all. Aunties would talk; putting pressure on parents to find a suitable match. Is this still the case nowadays, or has society moved on?
Do parents still give priority to wed their daughters over their sons, or are we seeing a complete change in thinking now?
Re: DAUGHTERS
You and I are society.
I am not going to pressurize my daughter to get married before my son.
What does your mom says?
But ‘society’ is a collective noun. 
ok you too are included. Shed some light now 
Re: DAUGHTERS
There is still pressure from society to get married as early as possible.
It is what you make of it in my opinion.
In my family, we are four sisters...no brothers. I have a three year old niece and a 5 month old niece. So in my immediate family, no boys so far. Ive never seen my dad cave into this "burden" mentality. He has always been very proud of us and says so.
Of course, he gets worried about me not being married. However, that comes from a different place. He wants to see me find happiness. :)
Re: DAUGHTERS
few months back, we were having discussion on "family" and my wife was describing to curious son why daughter leaves her home and starts living with husband after marriage. After dinner
we all were watching TV and all of sudden my (then 6.5 years old goes)
"I'll marry my sister so she does not have to leave us"
:)
My mum used to be on my case constantly…whenever we’d have a slight disagreement on any matter; she would say…‘ab teri vari agai hai…jao apne ghar!’ 
But I’ve noticed a change in her attitude over the last few years or so…she’s now turned to my elder brothers! High-five mum!
I think every family is different.. my mom raised us (me and my sister) to focus on education and not worry about marriage as when the time comes it will happen but she always pressured us to be independent and make our own decesions.. I unfortunately wasn't like her at all..Ever since my daughter is born I constantly make dua's to Allah SWT that she gets a nice humble person to share her life with and that she gets married a a suitable age. It's not that she is a burden but rather a delicate thing that I want to protect :).. That's how me and hubby view our daughter..
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^^ my mom is like that too, she tells me to concentrate on my studies and not worry about my shadi - jab honi hogi tab ho jaye gi (her words on countless occasions) haha
Re: DAUGHTERS
somebody has to resist it and somebody has to take the first step. It's not just going to change.
We are all a part of it.
Re: DAUGHTERS
Maham, I agree with you...my mom says the same. However, both parents want me to finish education first...(I'm in med school)....but whenever I've done something wrong, or she is mad at me...she'll be like...I'm getting you married now or I should've married you off long ago!
kids here get grounded....I get threatend with marriage haha
but yeah, most parents nowadays want their daughters to be more educated than just high school, but in the end all want them settled eventually in their own homes and have their own lives. My mom did want me to be married early and study at the same time, but each family is different....financial issues, extended family pressures, or anything else (health) can force parents to cave in sometimes. But for all families regardless, they'll feel some sort of a duty to marry their daughters early if possible and make sure they are in a good home.
Of course when I was growing up, my dad told me to focus on school and work and when the time comes, I'll marry ....So my parents often fight over the "time" issue. Every time I do something which annoys my mom...she'll tell my dad... ."Kha tha na...is ki shaadi kar laain"
and I gues our parents are always worrying for our izaat and honor and all that..I of course find this highly annoying, but I won't vent now...
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Attitudes are shifting for the better. I got a few proposals, but my dad would hate to have me even engaged before i am something according to his standards:hmmm:
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^ Your dad is awesome.
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Daughters arent a burden.
my dad was the same ! and I am glad that he was .
My daughter does not have a dad ! so being her sole provider & decision maker , I would not marry her off before she gets a professional degree. As long as I am alive I would always be there for her but she should be capable enough make her own living & should be sensible enough to live a decent life.
Daughters are not a burden they are blessing of Allah.
Re: DAUGHTERS
from my mothers side of the family, they are all educated, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and they insist on their girls being educated too. so pushing for marriage isnt common, until after they are 24/25 and will start asking. however my dads family are the opposite. and sorry to say, but apart from my dad and one or 2 others, rest are jahil and believe being married at the age of 17 is normal, education isnt as important, and just general nonsense.
ive noticed people with more education/educated, will not push for marriage so early, while jahils think that marriage for girls, is the be all and end all for them.
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My parents think I should be married as I get older, they are sighing and sobbing. So I don't know. They do act like boys can get away with murder. And girls should be quiet and pious.
most of the times daughters are better than sons, they care more about their parents especially in their old age...
i wish to have daughters when i am married...but need to keep dem boys away :ASA:
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it was very differen tin my family from the beginning.
All my dad's sisters and my mom's sisters got married in their late 20's....after finishing their professional degrees. When my mom married my dad....she was 29. So the concept of marrying girls when they're teenagers or still in college is totally ridiculous in my family....