What's more important - career or married life? For boys, it's certainly their career. They have a right to negotiate and decide about their lives. What about girls? To some extent, traditional roles of women as housewife and mother have transformed to ultramodern and working women in our society. Yet, despite the dramatic increase in their numbers in the work force, women have failed to breakthrough the gender barrier especially when it comes to define their essence and existence.

Insecurity of child's broadmindedness and his/her possibility of hunting a suitable mate himself or herself gong parents. They start their hunt for a suitable match as soon as a girl enters college. Undoubtedly, everybody wants a comfortable life. But, is marriage the only solution? What opinion does our university students hold? What do they first prefer - career or marriage?

Feels Sonalika of LSR, ``Still for most of parents, educating a daughter is a waste of time and money. They marry off their daughters as soon as possible, having decided to use their scarce resources for their sons' education at the expense of their daughters' lives.'' According to Garima of JNU, what a person wants today is a well-settled life, which demands a strong foundation. A happy picture includes a good job and an understanding life partner. She opines that one can get married anytime after establishing oneself. ``Particularly, women must be career-oriented and attain equal footing with men. I have learnt from experiences of my near ones that one should never think of commencing a career after marriage'' she added.

Boys, of course, don't believe in early marriages. Remarked Pankaj, Hansraj College, `I am not a `mamma's boy' and I will definitely not let my parents decide my life.'' Majority of boys feel that a girl is eligible for marriage anytime after 18, whereas for them, suitable age is 27 and onwards. Counters Smita, ``Why ever this thought comes to the mind of boys and our parents? They believe that once a daughter is married she is settled forever is fallacious one.'

But for Seema - who believes that sooner or later, we all have to marry - marriage at an early age is a wise step and career can always be made after. She said, ``I am ready to tie the knot early provided my would-be agrees to send me abroad for higher studies.'' Taking a dig at her opinion Ranjana, LSR says that fixing up early means losing independence. ``And I don't like somebody keeping a tab on me. Instead of hunting a suitable guy, each girl irrespective of her economic status and family background should be encouraged by parents to choose a career so that she is able to stand on her own feet and support herself.'' she asserted. It appears there's a need to set equal standards for sons and daughters.