Saba Azad on how society still finds it difficult to accept ambitious women
Mumbai, May 17
Actress Saba Azad reflected on how, despite all the talk for progress, society still finds it difficult to accept ambitious women.
Speaking to IANS exclusively, the 'Who's Your Gynac?' actress stated that the system in general is built to help men succeed, while women often have to work twice as hard to make a mark for themselves.
She was asked, "Do you think society still finds it difficult to accept ambitious women unless they have support from somewhere else?"
Reacting to the question, Saba shared, "Women often have to work twice as hard to prove themselves. We still live in a patriarchal society where judgment comes very quickly when it comes to women. The system has traditionally been built for men and their success."
"In many parts of our country, women are still not allowed to work freely or make independent choices. We may not always see that reality in cities, but it exists. So women constantly have to prove themselves, not just professionally but also at home. If they work, they are judged. If they do not work, they are judged again," she went on to add.
Saba concluded by saying that the expectations from women are endless, making their struggle far more challenging.
When asked if the male ego still feels challenged by strong women, Saba pointed out that society still functions within a patriarchal structure.
"Men are often raised to believe they are superior to women, so when they encounter strong women, it can challenge their conditioning. Their ego gets hurt because they are not used to seeing women as equals", she explained.
"But growth comes from learning. The moment we accept these truths instead of ignoring them, we can evolve and change. Learning never stops. Whenever I meet a strong woman, my instinct is to learn from her. Women multitask effortlessly and carry emotional strength in ways society often overlooks. There is so much to learn from them", Saba added, offering a solution.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I agree with the general sentiment but let's not generalize all men. My wife is a successful entrepreneur and I've always supported her. The problem is with outdated mindsets in both men and women. My own mother used to tell my wife to focus on household instead of career. We need to change family attitudes too.
Every word she said is true. I left my corporate job after marriage because my in-laws said "ladki ka ghar sambhalna zaroori hai" (girl must manage the home). Now I'm starting my own small business from home - small steps but I'm happy. The change starts with us standing up for ourselves. ❤️
What she said about men feeling threatened by strong women - it's so real! I'm a senior engineer and my ex-boyfriend literally told me he felt "emasculated" when I got promoted before him. It's 2025 and we still deal with this nonsense? Time for men to unlearn their fragile egos and support strong women instead. 🙄
Honestly, I'm tired of this narrative. My sister is a doctor, my wife is a lawyer - both ambitious and I celebrate them. This article makes it seem like all Indian men are monsters. Society has issues yes, but we're evolving. Instead of blaming men, let's focus on how both genders can work together for equality. Just my two paise.
Growing up in a small town in UP, I saw this firsthand - girls in my colony were discouraged from studying past 12
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