New Delhi: A 32-year-old woman working in India’s tech sector has spoken out online about how caste expectations have deeply affected her personal life and mental health. In a Reddit post that has gained widespread attention, she described being raised to avoid relationships outside her caste, leaving her isolated and depressed in adulthood.
The woman said her conservative upbringing focused on academics and obedience. “My parents had brainwashed my mind to not have a boyfriend or date someone outside the caste,” she wrote. Despite being a top student and building a successful career, she said she feels “suffocated from loneliness” and burdened by guilt for not meeting family expectations.
Her mother, who suffers from schizophrenia, has been emotionally impacted by her daughter’s struggles, while her father has stopped speaking to her. The woman said therapy did not help because her depression stems from unfulfilled emotional needs and isolation.
She added that an arranged relationship she entered at 25 ended unsuccessfully due to her inexperience. Now, despite being more mature and self-aware, she finds it difficult to cope with social and familial pressure to marry.
Many social media users responded with empathy, sharing their own experiences of loneliness and restrictive family expectations. The story has reignited conversations on mental health, caste-based conditioning, and how traditional marriage norms continue to impact young Indian women’s emotional well-being.
