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South Asian Mental Health, Depression, Women of Color, Stigma, Hidden Struggles, Mental Health Awareness, Cultural Expectations
đź’¬ “You don’t look depressed.” A phrase that countless South Asian women have heard — and internalized. In a culture that prides itself on strength, sacrifice, and the appearance of perfection, the pain beneath the surface often goes unseen, unheard, and unspoken. 🎠The Mask of the “Good Daughter” From a young age, South Asian women are taught to suppress discomfort and prioritize others. We are raised to be obedient daughters, loyal wives, and nurturing mothers — roles that rarely leave room for emotional vulnerability. We smile through breakdowns. We host gatherings while battling anxiety. We perform perfection, even when we’re unraveling inside. Depression doesn’t “look” a certain way —…
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Depression Behind the Dupatta: Smiling Faces, Silent Struggles
🎠Behind the Mask In countless South Asian households, the woman in the family is often the emotional glue — the caregiver, the quiet strength, the one who must hold it all together. She smiles at weddings, cooks for the entire family, checks on her children, and supports her husband. But beneath her dupatta — symbolic of grace and respectability — is often a woman silently battling depression. As one woman shared anonymously: “I used to cry while making chapatis. No one ever asked if I was okay. I smiled through everything — that was my role.” 📊 The Silenced Numbers 📊 Bar Chart: South Asian women’s experiences with depression…