Prithviraj Sukumaran on responsibilities of being a girl dad: ‘I’m at that uncomfortable stage…’

Prithviraj Sukumaran, a Malayalam actor and father, has noticed his responsibilities have greatly increased since becoming a parent. He recently discussed this during a promotion for his movie Daayra, which revolves around a young girl's disappearance and death. Sukumaran has an 11-year-old daughter and feels it's his duty to teach her about safety and potential dangers.

Although he would prefer not to have these talks, he acknowledges that our world isn't ideal. While it's crucial to discuss safety with both boys and girls, Sukumaran believes men carry a heavier responsibility in this matter. Counselling psychologist Athul Raj emphasizes that safety education should be integrated into the parent-child relationship, beginning early and evolving as the child grows.

He advises that conversations about safety can cover topics like bodily autonomy, personal boundaries, consent, peer pressure, relationships, and online safety. Raj states that how parents respond when their child shares something uncomfortable is just as important as the initial conversation. He warns that anger or panic from parents can make children hesitant to disclose future issues.

Raj also cautions that safety instructions for girls in India often focus too much on where they go, what they wear, and when they return. Instead, he suggests teaching girls that they are responsible for their own safety, but the responsibility ultimately lies with the person who violates their boundaries. Boys, too, need to be included in these conversations, learning about consent, boundaries, empathy, and respecting personal space.

Raj asserts that the goal of these discussions isn't to make children fearful but to provide them with a healthy awareness of risks while ensuring they trust their instincts and have a safe adult they can turn to if needed.