“Why are you crying? You’re not a child.”“Crying won’t solve anything — be strong.”“We didn’t cry, and we turned out just fine.” For many South Asian teenagers, especially girls, crying has been labeled as weakness — a shameful act, a loss of control, or a sign of being “too sensitive.” But the truth is:Crying is not a weakness. It’s a release. It’s human. And it’s healing. Why Crying Feels Wrong in South Asian Families In many Desi households, crying is often: This reaction comes from generations raised to believe that emotional expression is a threat to discipline, pride, or family honor. Emotions weren’t safe to show — so they were…