Why Do Women Always Put Themselves Through A Life Full Of Discomfort?

Do we do things for the sake of it? Why do women always put themselves through a life full of discomfort? Isn’t it easier to be simple and comfortable?

From time immemorial, women have been struggling for mere acknowledgement of existence of the fairer sex by the superior. And this struggle and journey for identity seems to have become eternal now! The reason is that women themselves make their lives complicated by continuing to participate in most inconvenient ways of living; by choice or otherwise. Be it about wearing sheen, under-knee length dresses in winters, or wearing high-heels for long, uneven walks, or putting layers of artificial beauty products, or carrying heavy jewellery on the most delicate body parts; the ultimate goal is to blindly follow a trend in the name of fashion, which is meant more to please the eyes of others than to bring comfort to themselves.

The lack of acknowledgement of our identities can be judged from the fact that women still need to be shy and inexpressive about something that is as common as menstruation. 50% of population suffers through ‘it’ every month, from an age as young as just entering into ‘teen’ (varying according to geographical and tropical changes) to an age as old as almost leaving youth and virility far behind. We still need to carry the whole purse to washrooms while all we need is the napkin. We still have to be cautious while buying or disposing those napkins so that no one catches us doing it; as if this is some heinous crime. We still look for lame excuses on raising leaves in work places or being unable to attend any event, when the actual reason circles around those painful days of the month. Ironically, we are not surprised to see these bad incumbent social practices in matters so sophisticated, but we do blabber about women empowerment, equality and freedom in other high notch affairs.

We still have to be cautious while buying or disposing those napkins so no one catches us doing it; as if this is some heinous crime.

I do not think that men alone are to blame for this. Women have been standing at par in creating and promoting an environment, which is highly unfriendly for them. We do things that everyone in the room likes, but us. We portray ourselves as objects, just so some men can pass flabby compliments, take pleasure in our company, and make us feel important by doing so. We have to ask ourselves if all this is required to prove our identity, more than the identity itself? As we preserve our identity by being unique and thereby, uncomfortable, are we not de facto losing it? Why can’t we just wear a comfortable dress, pair of flat shoes, no jewellery, no makeup and walk by, when we feel like it? I wonder when will women stop portraying themselves as the objects of admiration finally?

Why can’t we just wear a comfortable dress, pair of flat shoes, no jewellery, no makeup and walk by, when we feel like it?

We must not forget that fashion is being invented so that we enjoy it and rule over the world, not for it to rule over our psyche. It’s high time that we come forward, and say no to this uncomfortable life we are imposed to live. We need to be expressive about our needs – both, physical and emotional. We need to be less tolerant towards everything that puts us in discomfort. We need to start sharing our thoughts, boldly and publicly. We don’t need movements, protests and awareness programs; what we need is a change our very mentality.

For our own sake, let’s please stop putting ourselves through a life full of discomfort!

I invite you to share your thoughts on this in the comments section below. Your comments are valuable for every woman who is reading it!

Cheers!

Image of a woman with a cardboard box on her head via Shutterstock

Swati Agarwal

I am an odd bird!

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