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Personal / Narrative Based Stories: Story One + Activity One: Write About a Time You Had to Hide Your True Feelings to Meet Someone Else’s Expectations”
In the comments or practice it in your journals or a piece of paper, write about a time you had to hide your true feelings to meet someone else’s expectations as a south asian woman . This can range from pleasing a family member, friends or your partner/spouse. Below you can read the story of a fictionalized character who has been through this experience. The aim of this is to demonstrate what we can learn from this and how we can apply this into our daily lives. Note: Name is based on a fictionalized character narrating her story but used as a real life incident Picture credits: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/34/ee/d8/34eed893e236ed3246d7a063d4301ce2.jpg “The Day…
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“Is It Healthy to Compete for Attention from Family or Society?”
Story: Meenakshi grew up in a traditional Marathi household, where expectations ran high, and the concept of competition was ingrained in her from a young age. It wasn’t just about being the best at school or excelling in her career—it was about earning the approval of her family, her relatives, and society at large. The comparison with her cousins, especially her cousin Tanvi, had always been a constant source of stress for her. In Meenakshi’s household, her parents, while loving, always subtly compared her to her cousin Tanvi. Tanvi was the model child in the family—her career was thriving, she had a successful marriage, and even her fashion sense was…
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“Who Gets to Be ‘Ideal’ in Our Culture – and at What Cost?”
Returning to Pakistan after living abroad for so many years was a whirlwind of emotions. On the one hand, I missed the familiarity—the comfort of home, the smell of home-cooked food, and the warmth of my family. But on the other hand, I didn’t quite feel like I belonged here anymore. Living abroad had transformed me in ways I didn’t expect, and I was no longer the person my family thought I was. I had always been the obedient daughter, the one who followed the rules. But being away from home for so long had allowed me to redefine who I am. I started to choose my own path—independent, confident,…
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“She’s Not Your Rival, She’s Your Reflection”
Aishwarya and Vipasha are sisters, but their worlds couldn’t be more different. Aishwarya, the older sister, is everything that their parents dreamed of: academically successful, well-behaved, married to a stable and well-respected man, and always seen as the ideal, the one who has it all together. As Vipasha’s parents always say, Aishwarya is the “Yash Raj ki heroine,” the perfect embodiment of success, grace, and traditional values. On the other hand, Vipasha, the younger, is the complete opposite. She’s a wild spirit, living for the present, constantly chasing after excitement, and indulging in a lifestyle that doesn’t fit the mold her family has set for her. She’s white-washed, wanting to…
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“From ‘Look at Her’ to ‘Learn from Her’: Changing the Narrative for the Next Generation”
Introduction: Akshita and Gauri are cousins, both navigating life with their own sets of challenges. Akshita is married to Harman, a man she loves, yet who has become distant. Gauri is married to Rahul, who tries to support her but struggles with his own insecurities. Their lives intertwine in ways that force them all to confront deeper truths about themselves and the people around them. As dreams and desires mix with real-life emotions, they each grapple with what it means to truly understand one another—and themselves. Akshita’s POV: Akshita lay awake that night, restless as she struggled with the vivid dream she’d just experienced. In it, Harman and Gauri were…
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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…
Daughters of Strength, Bosses by Choice