Burning Beneath

It is hard to fully grasp and appreciate the resilience, strength, and brilliance of a woman as she navigates a world that constantly tests her. From the moment she takes her first breath, she faces challenges that would break others, yet she endures with grace, determination, and an unwavering spirit.

The struggle begins at birth. In many cultures, the birth of a girl was, and sometimes still is, met with rejection. In the old Arab world before Islam, families would bury newborn girls alive to hide their perceived “shame.” Similarly, in ancient China, daughters were often seen as burdens, with some families abandoning or neglecting female infants. Even today, in parts of the world, selective abortions and infanticide based on gender persist, perpetuating a cruel bias against girls. Yet, even in more “cultured” modern societies, discrimination takes subtler forms. Girls are often subjected to biases and societal expectations that prioritize boys—from education to career opportunities to simple household dynamics. These invisible barriers shape the lives of women, yet they persist, pushing forward and breaking through.

As a girl grows, her trials intensify. Puberty brings with it physical changes and challenges that she is often taught to be embarrassed about or even hide. Bloody periods, cramps, and body transformations make her a target for unwelcome stares, invasive comments, and harassment. Despite it all, she learns—instinctively and through experience—how to protect herself. She adapts, she endures, and she keeps marching forward.

Now she steps into the workforce, and she faces yet another layer of discrimination. If she is intelligent, professional, and excels at her job, she is often met with doubt or resentment. “A woman can’t be that good,” they say. I recall a meeting in my role as an IT manager. A supplier’s representative walked into my office and directed all his explanations toward my male colleague, despite the fact that I was sitting behind the desk and clearly in charge. I laughed to myself, accustomed to such behavior. But it always brings me joy to watch how their attitudes shift when they are confronted with my competence—when they realize the force of a woman who refuses to be underestimated.

Marriage presents its own set of challenges. Across many cultures, women have historically been treated as commodities—”gifts” handed over by their parents or wives acquired through dowries or other monetary exchanges. Even in modern times, women often face unequal expectations within marriage, shouldering disproportionate responsibilities while being denied equal partnership or respect.

Pregnancy and childbirth stand as some of the most incredible demonstrations of a woman’s strength. The power to create life is nothing short of miraculous. While a man’s contribution to this process is fleeting, a woman endures nine months of physical and emotional changes, navigating daily life with the weight of another life growing inside her. She is still the mother, the worker, the wife, the teacher—she is everything. And then there is the act of giving birth. Imagine your body being torn apart to make way for new life. The excruciating pain of labor and delivery is unparalleled, yet the moment she holds her child, all the suffering seems to fade. It is not just duty that drives her; it is love. What kind of magic is this? To endure so much and still have the capacity for so much love and care?

The extraordinary journey of women is proof of their resilience and greatness. They endure pain, discrimination, rejection, and countless challenges, yet they rise. They rise with grace, strength, and determination, proving time and again the miracle that is Woman. To be a woman is to carry the weight of the world and still hold it together—to endure and thrive, not because she must, but because she chooses to. And in every step she takes, she transforms the world, one act of courage at a time.

To be a Woman, I AM PROUD.