Societal expectations around marriage and childbirth continue to place significant pressure on women, according to Saviour Adonpoka Azaare, a member of the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED).
Speaking during an interview with James Nana Tsiquaye to mark International Women’s Day, Azaare said many women face criticism and judgment from society when they do not meet certain life milestones at expected ages.
She explained that women above the age of 30 are often subjected to scrutiny regarding marriage and family life.
“Today you see people on social media criticizing women who are 30 years and above because society expects them to be married and have children by that age,” Azaare said.
However, she said this expectation fails to recognize that many women are still building their careers, pursuing education, or discovering themselves during that stage of life.
“At 30, many women are still in the stage of self-discovery,” she said. “Society forgets that success, marriage, and childbirth are not tied to only women.”
According to Azaare, such pressures can lead some women to make decisions that may negatively affect their long-term growth.
“This pressure sometimes pushes young women into making wrong decisions that may hinder their development,” she said.
Azaare, who said she married at the age of 25, shared her personal experience of facing expectations from relatives and society regarding having more children.
“Even after completing my education, people began asking when I would have another child,” she said. “Sometimes they do not understand the plans you are making for yourself.”
She noted that women, in most cases, have to balance career ambitions, education, and family responsibilities, which can be challenging when societal expectations demand that they fulfill multiple roles simultaneously.
“Childbearing can slow down some of the things women are trying to build, whether it is education, business, or career,” she said.
Azaare called on society to allow women the space to grow and make decisions about their lives without undue pressure.
“We should be allowed to unfold ourselves and work within our space,” she said.
