Women’s guilt or do we make her feel so?
A pervasive sentiment threads through the diverse experiences of women, binding homemakers, professionals, college-goers, teenagers, hustlers, and laid-back souls alike. It’s the five-letter word that echoes through the thoughts of virtually every woman I know — guilt. But why does this heavy burden persist, transcending roles and aspirations?
One could argue that it stems from the deep conditioning of DNA memory, a silent inheritance of generational traumas and societal expectations. Every action a woman takes seems to come with a side serving of guilt. Stay-at-home mothers grapple with guilt for not keeping pace with the world, while professionals working long hours battle the guilt of being caught in the relentless rat race. Even seemingly trivial matters, such as the fanciness of a child’s lunch or being late with school fees, carry an uncomfortable weight of judgment.
Choices, whether it’s bottle-feeding over breastfeeding or prioritizing self-care over family time, are met with societal labels of guilt, accused of “cheating” the expected norms. Women navigate guilt for being intelligent and beautiful, often forced to take steps back to fit societal expectations.
In a world obsessed with standards of beauty and behaviour, women face constant scrutiny — too fat, too thin, too many pimples, or the unforgivable wrinkles. The list is endless, and the pressure to conform is unrelenting. In an era of advanced technology and AI like Chat GPT, where information is readily available, finding a truly guilt-free woman seems like an elusive quest.
It’s crucial to acknowledge the toll this pervasive guilt takes on women’s mental health. In India, depression and anxiety affect women twice as much as men, with a staggering 25% of women grappling with these issues. (Source — https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/methink/world-mental-health-day-mental-health-and-women/)
In a world that champions freedom of choice and individuality, it’s high time we as women release ourselves from the shackles of guilt. The expectation for women to balance competitiveness with homemaking is an unfair burden. Embedded judgments about how a woman should behave only contribute to this stifling atmosphere. Embracing diversity, choices, and the right to self-love in today’s world can pave the way for a guilt-free existence. It’s time to recognize the weight of this five-letter word and work towards freeing us as women from its stifling grip.
सारी दुनिया जीत चुके जो उन्हें सताती शंका मन की, बन सकते हो राम अगर तुम जीत सको ये लंका मन की
