She Breaks Barriers

  CHALLENGING THE NORMS: THE SILENT BATTLE OF INDIAN WOMEN IN SPORTS August 7th, 2024 would go down in Indian history as the time when a strong, irrepressible, and buoyant Indian sportswoman would be remembered as the one whose struggle to bring glory to the country failed by a hairline. Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 from the wrestling championship because she was overweight by a mere 100 grams. She was cheered, backed up, and celebrated across the nation for the many hats she donned and the fighting spirit she has. Now let’s turn back the pages of history and visit the era between the 1940s to 1950s. Hamida Banu, known as the “Amazon of Aligarh”, the village near Aligarh where she was born, was the first undefeated Indian women wrestler. In the times when wrestling was a male dominated sport, she broke the norms by proposing to marry the wrestler who would defeat her. She travelled to many cities announcing the challenge and never was defeated once. H...

The complexities of life impact everyone's mental well-being. However, women face unique challenges that can significantly influence their mental health. From societal expectations to hormonal fluctuations, understanding these factors and prioritizing self-care is crucial. This article delves into the specific mental health issues affecting women, explores the social and biological contributors, and provides strategies for building a strong foundation for well-being. The Weight of the World: Understanding Mental Health Challenges for Women Women are more likely than men to experience certain mental health conditions: Anxiety Disorders: Women are twice as likely as men to experience generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. This can manifest as persistent worry, excessive fear, and physical symptoms like racing heartbeats and shortness of breath. Depression: Depression is a major depressive disorder that affects women more frequently than men. It can lead to feelings of hop...