The notion behind not sharing experiences, stories and journeys to women varies. While some may disclose their stories some may not due to the fear of being judged and criticised. However, these reasons may be different as all women do not share concerns.
One of the reasons why women choose not to share their experiences is the pressure of culture or societal norms. There may be times where one may feel like her story is not conforming with the culture or society she is in. Sharing the story might seem like a challenge, which often leads to judgement and rejection. A good example may be a scenario where a woman from a society which expects females not to take part in male jobs, went ahead and found herself a job making her successful.
Not only that, but also the fear of online abuse prevents women, successful or not, from sharing their experiences. The internet is filled with people who have both good and bad intentions. Most women have experienced a troubling amount of harassment, and this can discourage them from sharing their stories. While still on this, I came across Jada Pinkett Smith's post on Facebook, where she said she was ready to speak her side of the story about the whole 'Jada and Will Smith Thing'. She even said something about why she and other women do not share their full stories due to the fear of being judged. If you did not know about this, it is all over social media; you can read about it. Anyway, I just hope the online family will understand her side and take it however it is.
Having imposter syndrome can cause some women not to share their personal experiences. Imposter syndrome is when one psychologically doubts his or her accomplishments and has a fear of being taken as frauds. In this case, many women, even if they are successful, may suffer from this and think they do not have to share their stories, contributing to their fears.
There are few role models and public figures in Malawi who openly share their stories, especially those in male-dominated fields. This lack of representation can discourage other women from speaking out since they have no one to copy from.
Many women do not share their stories, experiences, and journeys because of different reasons being at hand. These reasons vary from person to person, and not all women share these concerns. This may include having imposter syndrome, privacy, lack of representation, and online trolling. Let us all encourage a supportive and a non-judgmental environment for our women to share their stories.
You can’t be serious 💀🙌🏽💔