5 Things Women Are Asked To Compromise In The Name Of "Adjustment"

The commonly heard phrase "adjust karke chalo, ladki ho" has ingrained the idea of constant adjustment in women from a very young age. This has somehow significantly influenced their choices, encouraging them to make compromises in their relationships and work-life balance. Sadly, this societal norm often causes women to overlook their personal needs, relationships with family, and their individual boundaries.

Let's explore the areas where women commonly compromise in the name of adjustment, unveiling the societal dynamics and personal challenges they face.

Five Things Women Compromise In The Name Of Adjustment

Choice Of Dating and Marrying

There's this constant urge to find a partner or experience love, but when we do, there's this pressure to put a label on the relationship—call it dating, seeing each other, or something more. This pressure might come from the need for validation, either from our partner, society, or even from within ourselves, even if we're not entirely ready for that commitment. A study from 2017 shows that 41% of people would rather be alone than with the wrong person. Feeling pushed to compromise our own choices or rush into something before we're ready could be a big reason for this.

Household Or Workplace Responsibilities

Women often find themselves overloaded or overburdened with household or workplace responsibilities. While society often glorifies women for managing everything single-handedly without seeking help, this portrayal is inaccurate and unfair. It's important to understand that it's not solely a woman's duty to bear the burden. If they feel overwhelmed or overburdened, they shouldn't compromise on seeking support or sharing responsibilities. It's about a fair distribution of duties where everyone contributes based on capability and availability, regardless of gender.

One of the leading causes of burnout is compromising, because in this world, we often turn into warriors without recognising our limits. Renowned journalist Janice Sequeira, handling various work roles, openly discussed with SheThePeople how setting boundaries early on can prevent burnout. Read more of it here. 

Work-Life Balance

Women often compromise various aspects of their lives in the pursuit of maintaining a better professional life. This includes compromising personal time, leisure activities, family engagements, social outings, and sometimes even their health and well-being. We have all been in a scenario where we are managing a demanding job that requires us to work long hours, and on top of that, sometimes we feel like continuing to dedicate more time to professional responsibilities, often sacrificing our personal or family time. This might mean missing out on social gatherings or even forgoing personal time to unwind.

Talking about the same, during a conversation with Tiffany Reid at the Marshalls Good Stuff Social event, global icon Priyanka Chopra shared a phase in her life where her work commitments caused her to miss significant moments. She mentioned forgetting her mother,  Madhu Chopra's birthday. She said, "I don't remember how many of my mother's birthdays I have forgotten or I might have missed. How many times I forgot to call her in my 20s."

Mental And Physical Well-Being

Women's constant juggle between home and work, shaped by culture, has set back their mental and physical health for years. The reasons for this compromise are varied and influenced by culture, society, and personal beliefs. Sometimes, traditional roles and society expect women to prioritise others over themselves.

However, it's about time women stopped adjusting for others and started standing up for their own well-being. Sushmita Sen, in a conversation with SheThePeople, advocated the same, saying, "The idea of being a ‘good’ woman—a good wife, a good daughter, and so on—has taken a toll on a human level for women to just be individuals who have their own needs, and that need usually does not encompass being ‘good’ all the time."

Personal Boundaries

Women often find themselves extending their personal boundaries in various relationships—be it personal, social, or professional—hoping to maintain harmony or keep others content. While supporting those we're connected to is important, it shouldn't come at the cost of our own peace or by disregarding our personal boundaries. Sometimes, it can be as simple as declining a last-minute gathering if your soul does not permit it or if your social battery is over for the day. Other times, it could involve politely declining without sacrificing our values when a friend misunderstands friendly gestures and tries to escalate the relationship beyond friendship. It's about respecting ourselves while nurturing relationships.