In south Asian culture, marriage continues to be paramount, with women still largely bearing the brunt of this societal pressure. Tonight, the few south Asian women in the audience that US comedian Abby Govindan calls upon – myself included – verify this, one explaining how her parents have given up now that she is in her mid-30s.
For Govindan, who is nearing 30, it’s a familiar conversation she has had with well-meaning relatives, and one that creates an internal paradox. While she loves her south Asian identity and her Indian heritage, it can be difficult to reconcile this with the patriarchal stereotypes and archaic values that tend to hold women back.
