Information & Support

“I feel trapped by the expectations placed on me simply because I'm a woman.”

"What happens if I say NO?"

“I feel trapped  by the expectations placed on me simply because I'm a woman.”

If I step outside of my role of wife, mother, caregiver, or daughter, I’m met with judgment, criticism, or even violence. I feel powerless to change my situation.

In my community, there are strict expectations about what it means to be a woman. I am expected to be submissive, to prioritize my family and household above all else, and to never express my own needs or desires.

Every day, I feel the pressure to conform to these roles—cooking, cleaning, and caring for everyone without complaint. If I speak up or try to pursue my own dreams, I'm often met with disapproval or even anger from my family and community.

It feels like I’m constantly being told that my worth is based on my ability to serve others, not on who I am as an individual. When I see other women around me also struggling to meet these expectations, it feels even more isolating.

I want the freedom to make my own choices and live my life on my own terms.

But the fear of judgment or punishment for stepping out of line makes it incredibly difficult.

What happens if I say no?

There are moments when I’m so exhausted from fulfilling everyone’s expectations that I wonder what would happen if I simply said no. But the fear of rejection, anger, and punishment makes me stay silent. It’s easier to keep going, even though each ‘yes’ chips away at who I am.

If this resonates with your experience and you can relate to this pain, remember that you are not alone. Hope exists, and there are people who truly understand.

Rigid gender roles can create a suffocating environment where women's identities and aspirations are often constrained, leaving them feeling powerless and trapped.You deserve the freedom to make your own life decisions.