Indian Women Aren’t Afraid of Divorce, They’re Afraid of Losing Themselves
Riya Kumari | Thu, 09 Oct 2025
There is something deeply human, and deeply Hindu, in the fear that arises around divorce, not the legal document, but the loss of identity, of self-worth, of place in the cosmos. Many women speak of the dread not of saying “I want out,” but of not knowing who they will be after. This is not weakness. It is a finely tuned alarm from the soul.
Indian wife
( Image credit : Pexels )
Let’s get something straight: Indian women aren’t scared of divorce. They’re scared of what life actually looks like without a script. Because the second she stops pretending, the world starts noticing all the invisible shit she’s been putting up with. She’s been expected to: Cook like a Michelin chef while working a 9 - 9 job. Smile at insults from her husband disguised as “jokes.” Nod politely as relatives lecture her on the sacredness of silence. Endure emotional blackmail that’s dressed up as “for your own good.” Carry the weight of her in-laws’ happiness and society’s judgment, simultaneously. And now she’s thinking about divorce? The horror.
Let’s be honest: Indian marriages are less about love and more about survival of dignity. Try telling that to anyone, and they’ll say, “Oh, but marriage teaches compromise.” Yes, compromise, a polite word for “shut up and tolerate.” Here’s a reality checklist:
Let’s not sugarcoat: post-divorce life is a minefield.
Everyone claims Indian women are “strong.” Sure, if enduring systemic neglect counts as strength. Strong enough to:
The uncomfortable truth
She isn’t afraid of divorce. She’s afraid of society seeing her rage. She’s afraid of owning that she’s been underpaid emotionally, belittled constantly, and reduced to a checklist of duties labeled “wife duties.” She’s afraid of confronting the fact that she may have wasted decades performing for applause she never received. And that, dear reader, is why she hesitates: not because she loves him, but because society loves to hate women who love themselves.
Indian women aren’t scared of marriage ending. They’re scared of life starting, in a country that constantly tells them: you belong to someone else, not yourself. Divorce is just the beginning. The real revolution? Surviving reality with eyes open.
The everyday abuse they never warn you about
Cook
( Image credit : Pexels )
Let’s be honest: Indian marriages are less about love and more about survival of dignity. Try telling that to anyone, and they’ll say, “Oh, but marriage teaches compromise.” Yes, compromise, a polite word for “shut up and tolerate.” Here’s a reality checklist:
- Gaslighting, “You’re imagining things” after she points out emotional neglect.
- Workload transfer, “I’ll help” means “I’ll supervise while you do it.”
- Financial invisibility, her salary goes into shared accounts, yet she’s told, “You spend too much.”
- Emotional labor as duty, she manages everyone’s moods, birthdays, illnesses, and still hears, “Why are you so sensitive?”
- Judgment from all sides, neighbors, relatives, and WhatsApp aunty clubs are all ready to report a slip of independence like it’s nuclear fallout.
Divorce, the unspoken war zone
Marriage
( Image credit : Pexels )
Let’s not sugarcoat: post-divorce life is a minefield.
- Family: suddenly she’s “spoiled” or “selfish.”
- Ex-husband: acts like she just committed a crime against humanity.
- Society: turns her into a cautionary tale at weddings.
The real irony
Family
( Image credit : Pexels )
Everyone claims Indian women are “strong.” Sure, if enduring systemic neglect counts as strength. Strong enough to:
- Be shouted at by your own husband and still offer water.
- Sit through endless lectures on “good behavior” after your career takes off.
- Pretend you don’t notice the one-hour delay in paying for your own contributions.
- Smile while someone else lives your dream on your dime.
The uncomfortable truth
Indian marriage
( Image credit : Pexels )
She isn’t afraid of divorce. She’s afraid of society seeing her rage. She’s afraid of owning that she’s been underpaid emotionally, belittled constantly, and reduced to a checklist of duties labeled “wife duties.” She’s afraid of confronting the fact that she may have wasted decades performing for applause she never received. And that, dear reader, is why she hesitates: not because she loves him, but because society loves to hate women who love themselves.
Indian women aren’t scared of marriage ending. They’re scared of life starting, in a country that constantly tells them: you belong to someone else, not yourself. Divorce is just the beginning. The real revolution? Surviving reality with eyes open.
