Relationship Issues & Abuse

Women are brought up to try to fulfill an impossible array of ideals simultaneously. They may expect themselves to be perfect daughters, daughters-in-law, wives, mothers, friends, sisters, and professional career women.

Some South Asian communities emphasize a woman’s duty to sacrifice her time and energy to care for others, or to defer to others in making important decisions. In turn, they may feel helpless because of their relative lack of power and control over their lives, in comparison to men. At times, this imbalance of power can lead to relationship abuse and marital rape.