Dr Ayesha Siddiqui
Every morning, Anjali goes to her office, no one knows the hours she has already lived.
She prepared breakfast, ironed uniforms, comforted her special child. Her day begins long before she comes to the office.
There are countless working women who do the two jobs, the office is not a break for her, it is the second battlefield. According to the International Labour Organisation, women globally work nearly three times more than men. This invisible work exhausts her energy, yet it is rarely acknowledged.
At workplace, many women quietly push through heavy workloads allotted by male supervisors who assume “she will manage somehow.” This creates unnecessary tight deadlines and rise in expectations. If she refuses extra tasks, she is labelled incapable in front of boss. Asking for leave even for a sick child or personal health can feel less like a right and more like an inconvenient request.
This struggle is conveniently taken for granted or clearly ignored that leads to frustration. She lives in the guilt she carries of choosing office over home. The fear of harassment, the barriers to leadership and constant scrutiny add to the weight that becomes heavier to carry.
Yet working women keep going anyway not because it is easy but because it is must. Their resilience is powerful but don't think their strength means they're fine with unfairness. We can't just talk on empathy-it must be practiced. Employers must distribute work fairly and respect women without judgment. Rules should protect not just getting work done, but people's real dignity too.
A society that truly values its women should ease their loads, not quietly pile on more. When we back working women with real fairness and kindness, we all win big.