Member-only story
Good Daughters, Good Wives, Good Girls — But at What Cost?
The unpaid emotional labor women have been doing for generations.
Not a Medium member? Read this story here.
I was sitting with my friend at a cafe last weekend when she broke down.
She just got promoted at work, but instead of celebrating, she was overwhelmed with guilt. Why? Because accepting the promotion meant relocating to another city — away from her parents who expected her to stay close to home.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “I want this job, but I can’t stand the disappointment in my mom’s voice. She keeps saying ‘good daughters don’t leave their families behind.’”
Her story isn’t unique. As women, we’re caught in a web of expectations from the moment we’re born. Be polite. Be accommodating. Be selfless. Put others first. Make everyone happy.
But I have to ask: at what cost?
The invisible burden we carry
From childhood, we’re taught to be “good.”
Good daughters help with household chores while brothers play outside. Good wives anticipate their husband’s needs before their own. Good girls don’t cause trouble or rock the boat.
