Invisible Victories: The Silent Strength of Women

In our society, a woman’s achievement is often not considered an achievement at all. It’s judged, questioned, or simply ignored. The roles she plays — as a mother, daughter, wife, or professional — are treated not as contributions, but as obligations.

You don’t get praised for fulfilling your duty, do you? That’s what they say when a woman spends her days juggling a job, raising children, caring for the elderly, and sacrificing her dreams. And even when she dares to reach for something more, her success is met with silence — or suspicion.

Take Salma, a single mother from a rural village. She works as a tailor during the day and tutors children at night. She saved for three years to open a small tailoring shop. When she finally did, no one congratulated her. Instead, she was asked, “Why do you work so hard? Your husband left you — isn’t that shameful enough?” Not a word about her strength, only whispers about her past.

Or Mitali, a young girl from a slum who learned graphics design at Sombhabona ICT Centre. She now freelances and supports her family. But relatives still ask her why she’s “wasting time with boys’ work.” When she gifted her mother a new fridge, the neighbors said it must have come from a man. Her skill, her earnings — not recognized. Because in their eyes, women can’t succeed without a man’s help.

And then there’s Rokeya, a school teacher who taught dozens of students while battling chronic illness and looking after her bedridden mother-in-law. She missed one PTA meeting and was labeled irresponsible. No one asked how she managed to show up every other day with a smile, carrying the world on her shoulders.

This is the reality of millions of women. They rise early, sleep late. They work without pause, without pay, without praise. They fight to study, to lead, to dream — and are told they’re asking for too much. They face judgment for speaking up, but silence earns them no respect either. In a patriarchal society, women carry the heaviest load — often in silence.

But silence is no longer an option. 

We must rewrite the narrative.

Women must support women. We must celebrate every small win, amplify every unheard voice, and stand in solidarity with those who are overlooked and underestimated. The world may not give them recognition, but we will.

Because every time a woman dares to dream, she is already victorious. And every time she lifts another woman up, she changes the world — quietly, powerfully, and forever.

Written By:

Mosfeka Zannat