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“Passed Down Pride: How Family Comparisons Shaped My Competitive Mindset”
Two Sisters, One Story Told Two Different Ways Meera and Diya. In the eyes of their extended family, they couldn’t have been more different. Meera was the poster child for “how a beti should be.”Married at the right time, in the right outfit, to the right man. A corporate success with the “perfect” smile. Her photos were the kind that got printed and framed in the living room. Diya was… chaos, according to them.Loud, vibrant, independent. Too many parties, too many piercings, too many questions. Tattoos, cropped tops, and an open refusal to get married. The irony? They were both just trying to survive a system that told them their…
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“Why Do Aunties Love to Compare Us? The Root of Judgment in South Asian Communities”
You’re at a family gathering. The chai is flowing, the snacks are out, and the aunties… well, they’re in full form.“She’s studying medicine now, right?”“That one got married last year — such a good match.”“Oh, you’re still figuring things out? Hmm… don’t worry, beta.” The comparisons are casual — even passive-aggressive — but they sting. And they stick. For so many of us, these moments aren’t rare. They’re normal. But that’s the problem.Because behind the polite smiles and sideways glances lies a culture of judgment that shapes how we see ourselves — and each other. So let’s ask the question out loud:Why do aunties love to compare us? It’s Not…
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“Why Are We So Hard on Each Other? A Reflection on South Asian Female Competition and Self-Worth”
Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through social media, silently comparing yourself to another South Asian woman, and feeling the weight of it all? Maybe you saw someone with a seemingly perfect life, or a career you dream of, and thought, “Why can’t I get there?” That feeling of “not enough” hits hard. And if we’re honest, it’s a familiar feeling many of us carry in silence. We’ve all been there — competing, measuring up, constantly questioning our worth based on the lives of others. But where did this internalized competition even come from? The Unspoken Pressure of Competition It’s no secret that South Asian culture places immense value on…
Daughters of Strength, Bosses by Choice