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“Struggling with Your True Identity: How to Handle Cultural Expectations While Building Self-Worth”
You’re too Western.”“Why are you acting so white?”“Don’t forget where you came from.” For many South Asians growing up in the diaspora — or even within South Asia while breaking norms — identity is a constant battle between being true to yourself and honoring your roots. You learn early on that fitting in is about performing. You learn to wear your “Desi face” at home and a different one at school or work. You feel guilty for wanting freedom but suffocated when you conform. And at the core of it all, you quietly ask:“Am I disappointing someone by being myself?” When Culture Becomes a Cage Culture is meant to be…
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“Can a South Asian Woman Be Soft and Strong at the Same Time?”
For generations, South Asian women have been told they must choose between being soft or strong. In many cultures, femininity is linked to softness, and strength is often viewed as a masculine quality. We are conditioned to believe that being emotional or vulnerable means being weak, while strength is equated with stoicism, silence, and sacrifice. But what if we don’t have to choose? What if being both soft and strong isn’t just possible—it’s essential? The Dichotomy of Strength and Softness in South Asian Culture In South Asian families, women are often expected to be pillars of strength, handling everything from family dynamics to cultural pressures with grace. But at the…
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“Balancing Act: Being Emotionally Honest While Meeting Cultural Obligations”
Picture Credits: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/bb/27/c5/bb27c5468c3aa2de2b4afaf2eb002fd5.jpg For many South Asian women, life often feels like walking a tightrope — arms outstretched, carefully measuring each step, balancing the weight of two seemingly opposing forces: being true to yourself and being who your family and culture expect you to be. You want to speak up — but you don’t want to be disrespectful.You want to rest — but there are chores waiting.You want to say no — but the guilt is louder than your boundaries. This is the reality of the emotional balancing act — where honoring your truth often means negotiating with the values that raised you. Cultural Obligations: The Unseen Load In South…
Daughters of Strength, Bosses by Choice