When ‘Care’ Feels Like a Cage.

Blog Post Written by Asma Tahir (Guest Author)

I saw a beautiful, adventurous bird with colorful wings. Something about it caught my eye—was it its fearless nature or simply the brilliance of its feathers?

But I wasn’t the only one drawn to it. A bird seller noticed it too. With the gentlest touch, he took the bird, placed it inside a golden cage, and provided it with everything it could need—everything except freedom.

Then, he clipped its wings and whispered, “For your safety!”
“Don’t cut the wings of a bird and tell it, ‘This is for your safety!’ Because… once its wings are destroyed, what does it have left to lose?”

What exactly is it being protected from? And who is the real danger—the outside world or the one who clipped its wings?

As I pondered this, my phone buzzed. It was an email—I had been selected for a digital marketing role, and they had accepted my request for remote work!

Excited, I ran to my parents’ room to share the news. But their negative response shocked me. The reason? The same ones we’ve heard a thousand times as women: “We want you to settle in life. A career? Leave that! Focus on having a family.”

I had always thought my battle was me vs. society, but that day, I realized my battle was against my own family—against the very people I thought would support me.

That night, in the silent darkness, I struggled to breathe. A panic attack. But it wasn’t just a fight to catch my breath—it was a fight to live without a cage disguised as care.

I felt suffocated, bound by invisible chains that held me back from flying, from becoming who I was meant to be.

My Ammi (mother) sat beside me, as she always does. She held my hand and said: “Beta… mai chahti hoon ke tu ek rani banke rahe, naukrani nahi. Ghar par raho, khush raho!”

“Daughter… I want to see you as a queen, not a servant. Stay home, stay happy!”

It wasn’t her fault. She was simply repeating what her mother had told her. And her mother before that. Generational thoughts don’t break overnight. But that night, I made a promise to myself—I will break these norms. I chose a path where no one could restrict me. I chose self-employment.

If they won’t let me fly in the sky, I’ll create my own space.
And I am not afraid.
No matter how many doors they close, I don’t care—because I am building my own.


For Every Woman Reading This:
In the name of ‘care’, women have been ‘caged’ for too long. And when we stand up against it, we are called ‘too ambitious’.

We see this far too often. Potential is crushed. Dreams are caged. Choices are stolen—all in the name of “protection.”
But protection should empower, not imprison.

Taking away someone’s freedom to choose, to explore, to rise—doesn’t care. It’s control. And once the wings are gone, what remains? If you truly want to help, don’t be the reason someone forgets they were meant to fly.

For so long, women like me have been told to stay in our ‘golden cages,’ to trade our dreams for security, to mistake control for care.

But what if we refuse? What if we reclaim our wings, even after they’ve been clipped? I’ve learned that every rejection is just redirection. And sometimes, the most beautiful stories are written in the ink of our Scars and Struggles.

If you’ve ever felt like your dreams were locked away, if you’ve ever battled rejection, if you’ve ever had to fight for your own freedom—maybe you’ll find a part of yourself in mine.
📖 Beauty in My Scars – A journey of rejection, resilience, and rising above. Read more

Take a stand. Speak up. Build your own doors if none are open for you. Whether it’s pursuing education, a career, or starting your own business—your life is yours to shape.

Let your wings spread. Dream high.
You were born for greatness. If someone tries to clip your wings, don’t let them!
“You are beyond these norms. Stronger than they think.”

📣 Join the Conversation:
✔ Tag your mother who buried her dreams so you could achieve yours.
✔ Share this with a woman who needs to hear it.
✔ Comment your thoughts—have you ever felt caged in the name of care?

You are stronger than you think. Your dreams are valid. And your wings? They were always meant to fly.

“Dream big, my sister—you will achieve.”

Let’s rise together.

#BreakTheCage #WomenEmpowered #restrictions 💙

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