Navigating life as a woman can often feel like walking a tightrope—balancing numerous roles, expectations, and responsibilities, all while trying to maintain some semblance of personal well-being. From managing a household and raising children to excelling at a career and taking care of one’s own mental and physical health, the weight of it all can be overwhelming. But, despite the struggle, women continue to show resilience, strength, and an unwavering commitment to their loved ones and their personal goals.
For many women, the juggle between family, work, and self-care is an exhausting one. Between the school runs, grocery shopping, and ensuring the house is in order, the domestic responsibilities often take precedence over personal time. As a result, women frequently find themselves sacrificing their own well-being for the sake of others, which can lead to burnout.
“The world is not getting easier for women. The pressures of building a career, finding a partner, creating financial stability in a changing world, and then conceiving, bearing and raising children have become near-unbearable, to the point where women are either being prevented from having kids, or finding themselves forced out of the workforce once they do,” shares Melissa Saleh, former journalist and lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.
In the professional sphere, women are often expected to excel while also managing family commitments. The “superwoman” myth—where women are expected to perform flawlessly in all aspects of their lives—remains pervasive, even though many women are exhausted by the constant pressure. Women often face guilt, especially when they feel they are not meeting expectations, whether as mothers, daughters, or employees.
The reality is that women face multiple societal expectations: to be nurturing mothers, dutiful daughters, supportive partners, and successful professionals. This can feel like an endless cycle where “doing it all” is held up as a standard, but rarely is there acknowledgment of how taxing it is to balance such competing priorities.
Women also grapple with body trauma, which manifests in numerous ways. Society imposes narrow standards of beauty that women are often pressured to conform to, contributing to negative body image and eating disorders. But the trauma doesn’t stop there. Women’s bodies are subjected to the physical toll of childbirth, reproductive health struggles, and the aging process, with little room for open conversation about the discomforts, scars, and emotional tolls that accompany these experiences.
“Women are taught to shrink their pain, to tuck it away in quiet corners where it won’t make others uncomfortable. At the same time, the rates of infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss and birth trauma are rising steadily, and American women are facing more pain and physical hardship than ever when it comes to having children,” continues Saleh.
Miscarriages, post-partum depression, and struggles with fertility are common, yet rarely discussed in a meaningful way. Instead of being offered empathy and support, many women are left to process these experiences in silence, which can deepen their sense of isolation. Moreover, the societal focus on appearance often obscures the complexities of women’s health. It’s about more than just “bouncing back” after having children or regaining a pre-pregnancy body—it’s about acknowledging the physical and emotional journey that accompanies womanhood.
Saleh tells us: “After losing my daughter at birth, I was in a tremendous amount of pain. It blinded me. It was the hardest period of my life; I had to endure months of trauma therapy and grief counseling, but it transformed me. Because pain is not a stain that makes you unworthy of being seen: It is a thread woven into the fabric of who you are… A mark of endurance, not of brokenness.”
Grief is a profound aspect of a woman’s experience, often compounded by the weight of societal expectations. Women may lose their own sense of self in caregiving roles, or they may experience the loss of loved ones, whether through death, separation, or estrangement. Such losses—whether personal or familial—often lead to emotional scars that can be challenging to heal.
The expectation for women to maintain composure and not “burden others” with their grief often leaves them struggling in silence. The emotional labor of processing loss—whether through miscarriage, death, or strained relationships—frequently goes unnoticed, yet it is an integral part of many women’s journeys.
If we truly want to empower women, it’s crucial to foster environments—both at home and in the workplace—that allow women to thrive without carrying the weight of unrealistic expectations. By embracing vulnerability and seeking support from others, women can begin to break free from the pressures of doing everything alone.
Ultimately, being a woman in today’s world involves resilience, sacrifice, and strength. But it also requires a collective commitment to changing the narrative, creating compassionate spaces, and recognizing the everyday challenges women face. Until we do, women will continue to navigate life with courage—but it’s time we helped ease their load.
Image by The Library of Congress