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How Simple Compliments Help Women Build Supportive Ecosystem

The fear of not "having it all," combined with the ever-growing societal expectations of what defines a "successful woman," has created unnecessary competition among women. 

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Khushi Dwivedi
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What truly defines a successful life? Is it getting into a dream college, landing a dream job, sharing life with a kindred spirit, traveling the globe, having a supportive family, accumulating wealth, or perhaps simply enjoying a peaceful and relaxed existence? Is it possible for someone to achieve all these ideal conditions and live a life straight out of a fairytale?  

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But don’t fairytales always have villains? The ones who disrupt the peaceful lives of the prince and princess? In those tales, defeating the villain and living happily ever after signifies the ending we cherished as children. But in real life, how does one achieve a happy ending? Or perhaps the bigger question is: who are the sharp-toothed, dangerous-looking villains in our own stories? 

In a woman’s life, the villains might very well be the ideals we create—our own expectations. These expectations often arise from relentless competition, not just with others but with ourselves. As we witness the achievements of women reaching remarkable milestones across various fields, we subconsciously raise the bar of expectations for our own lives. Does this lead us to compete more than we collaborate with our fellow women?

What Defines A Successful Woman?

"Beauty with Brains" or "She Can Carry Both" — these phrases may feel empowering but are inherently idealistic. In today’s world, the concept of working women balancing careers and family has been normalised. However, society often expects women to excel in every role flawlessly, whether it’s managing a demanding workplace position or balancing household responsibilities and family dynamics.

Critiquing modern-day feminism for romanticising the ideal of being an independent woman, I believe that true independence lies in a woman’s freedom to live an imperfectly flawed life without the pressure or fear of "having it all." The fear of not "having it all," combined with the ever-growing societal expectations of what defines a "successful woman," has created unnecessary competition among women. 

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Women For Women

While embracing imperfections, I often wonder why Indian shows with the highest TRPs revolve around saas-bahu dramas or love rivals at odds. Is it because, as viewers, we are drawn to the spectacle of two highly intelligent women, with strikingly different personalities, clashing in a battle of wits and emotions? 

If these emotions and wisdom were directed toward cheering for one another, wouldn’t we witness an ecosystem where women support each other and embrace their flaws together? The most captivating trait a woman can possess is confidence. Confidence often flourishes with a compliment or the support of other women. Sometimes, a simple smile or a few kind words directed at another woman can brighten her day or even bring a spark to her eyes.

When women support each other, incredible things do happen. 

Views expressed by the author are their own.

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