International Women's Day: These seven women are rewriting the rules in a patriarchal world

Happy International Women's Day! (Image: Freepik)

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we celebrate the achievements of women worldwide, but we must also acknowledge the systemic challenges they face. Patriarchy, deeply entrenched in societies, continues to shape the lives of women in myriad ways. From career struggles to personal relationships, women often find themselves battling societal expectations, biases, and stereotypes. So, we talked to seven women from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences of confronting patriarchy and how they continue to fight it, offering a glimpse into their resilience and strength.

Rasshi Gurnani, 34, psychologist, Mumbai

Rasshi's journey as a divorced woman and a psychologist has been marked by societal judgment and professional skepticism. "People often see divorce as a failure, rather than a step toward self-growth," she says, adding, "Emotionally, it was tough to unlearn the idea that my worth was tied to my marital status, but with time, I learned to rebuild my confidence, redefine my identity and embrace my independence."

As a psychologist, she's faced dismissive attitudes toward her expertise, with some attributing her success to luck rather than hard work. However, over the years, she has learnt to use her platform to create awareness, challenge outdated norms and ensure that gender-sensitive mental health issues received the attention they deserve. "I have tried to empower women through therapy and advocacy, helping them unlearn harmful conditioning and redefine their worth," she adds.

Anita Shah, 54, homemaker, Ankleshwar, Gujarat

Anita's life as a homemaker revolves around her family's need. While she finds fulfillment in her role, she acknowledges the exhaustion that comes with it. "Managing the house every day can be tiring. Cooking, cleaning and taking care of everyone is a lot of work. Sometimes, I don't get much rest, but I do it with love," she shares.

She's made it a point to support her daughter-in-law, who juggles work and home, by encouraging her dreams and sharing household responsibilities. "Empowering her is my way of breaking the cycle," Anita says.

Tanya Mehra, 32, mom blogger (@tannzymommy) and certified child nutritionist, Gurugram

Tanya's life as a single mother has been a rollercoaster of challenges—from financial struggles to societal judgment. "The transition from a two-parent household to single-handedly managing all aspects of parenting has been overwhelming. There were moments when people questioned my ability to provide stability to my child," she recalls.

Balancing personal aspirations with motherhood is also a struggle for her. "Whether it is making time for myself, advancing my career, or simply taking a break, guilt often creeps in," she shares.

Sleepless nights, worrying about the future and constantly pushing herself to be both parents took a toll on her and she suffered from alopecia, depression and weight loss. To battle this, Tanya found solace in blogging, where she shares her parenting journey and connects with other mothers. "Blogging has empowered me. It has given me a purpose beyond day-to-day responsibilities, allowing me to use my voice to inspire and uplift others. Most importantly, it has helped me transform my struggles into a source of strength — not just for myself, but for the countless other  mothers in similar circumstances," she says.

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Seven women narrate their stories of resilience and strength. (Image: Freepik)

Karishma Rohra, 35, communications professional, Mumbai

Choosing to be child-free and embracing pet parenthood, Karishma has faced unsolicited advice from all directions. "There's an assumption that fulfillment, especially for women, comes from motherhood. While parenting a pet is different from raising a child, the bond, commitment and care involved are very real," she says.

However, she has learnt to stand firm in her choices and embrace them with confidence despite all the backlash, "The key has been surrounding myself with supportive people who respect my decisions," Karishma notes, adding, "Solo travel has allowed me to connect with different cultures, perspectives and ways of life—reaffirming that happiness isn't defined by a checklist of societal expectations."

Aakanksha Sharma, 31, associate manager, Bengaluru

As a lesbian woman, Aakanksha has faced shame, loneliness and discrimination at every turn. "I lived in fear of being found out by my family and suppressed myself too much that it started showing up as health concerns in my body. I went into depression and experienced suicidal tendencies," she reveals.

However, she tackled all this with the help of therapy, community engagement, and recently also met the love of her life. "Resilience has been my greatest strength," she says as she has reclaimed her identity and is out and proud as a lesbian woman.

Ankita Mittal, 38, CEO, Bengaluru

Ankita's journey in STEM has been marked by subtle biases and a lack of female role models. "Engineering, particularly fields such as electronics, electrical and mechanical, were heavily male-dominated. Women studying engineering had to prove their capabilities more than men," she says.

By advocating for competence-based hiring and becoming a woman leader herself, Ankita has been able to navigate workplace dynamics. "There is change happening, but there is a long way to go before the proverbial glass ceiling is truly broken," she highlights.

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Ghazal Khanna, 28, screenwriter and actor, Mumbai

As a bisexual woman, Ghazal has faced relentless discrimination. "Bisexuality is usually depicted as 'lesbians who can't make up their mind' or simply someone with a 'loose character'," she says.

Coming out to her family was a pivotal moment, and she's since then embraced her identity unapologetically. "Being true to myself removed the dead weight. Decriminalising section 377 was a step in the right direction but what we need to change is people's minds and how they view the community," she asserts.