I recently went to a business workshop which was amazing. I learnt so much and built some great connections. The presentation to the workshop activities were great.
However, one of the activities was around limiting beliefs. Within the group I had highlighted that still today South Asian Women are given less opportunities regarding self-growth in their personal lives. One of the fellow attendees was quick to challenge my belief which is fine, everyone is welcome to their own opinion and we don’t all have the same experiences.
Although they had used my age as reasoning behind why the belief was outdated and said that belief system was generations ago, they haven’t experienced it and even in their country women are treated equally to men and girls are given many opportunities. If that is the case for them, then that is brilliant.
BUT South Asian Women do unfortunately face many setbacks in their life one being choosing family life over their professional life.
How DARE they dream big?
Don’t they want to get married and have a family?
Who does she think she is?
What will people say?
These are just a few examples of what SA women hear compared to men.
This person was also from the South Asian background themselves, so it was interesting to see that they had not experienced setbacks themself being a SA woman in their life.
Just because one person says they haven’t experienced setbacks within the SA culture doesn’t hide the fact cultural limiting beliefs still EXIST for so many.
On another note, what does a person’s age have to do with what their life experiences? I understand that for certain situations in life age does play a factor, but when a person is trying to achieve their lifelong dream either at 16 or 61, why do others feel the need to judge them on their age as a factor? Especially when you have never met this person before and don’t even know how old they are.
For the SA women reading this with a lifelong dream they would like to achieve in their life please don’t give up on yourself.
That DREAM came to YOU for a reason. You’re a baton bearer, so who would you like to pass the baton to?
Lastly a massive THANK YOU to my amazing Mentor Rupinder Kaur for helping me to believe that a young SA girl who had to overcome so many obstacles in her life really can achieve her aspirations in life to make a difference in this world.
Asian Women MEAN Business is a personal and professional support network that supports women to choose FAITH over FEAR.
Rajni is a a community volunteer, creative with a professional background in administration and reporting.