The Journey to Divorce: Sonia’s Story

This candid chat with Sonia Gupta highlights the pressure and guilt women face to stay in unhappy marriages, plus the financial implications of leaving, which we don’t often think about at the start of marriages. It may be unromantic, but perhaps we should?Sonia saw her divorce as a new beginning for herself and something to celebrate, which then went viral when the papers called it a divorce party!However, the journey to Sonia’s divorce was not easy or simple; she spent years advocating for it, wanting the support of her parents and working to ensure she could support herself and her two sons.During this time, Sonia felt immense pressure from her family to maintain her marriage:“My mom said, ‘Maybe you should stay home and make roti,’” Sonia shared, echoing the common expectation that women prioritise their roles as wives and mothers over their own happiness, but Sonia chose divorce and put her happiness first, something many women have been discouraged from doing.She now hears regularly from women going through divorce and supports them through the process, because she knows how lonely and isolating it can be, but her advice is not always to go through with it. Listen to the full story to hear about Sonia’s journey. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Sonia’s Journey01:48 Cultural Expectations and Personal Struggles05:26 The Battle for Independence08:44 Celebrating Freedom: The Divorce Party12:04 Navigating Parental Expectations13:28 The Impact of the Divorce Party18:09 Empowering Women Through Shared Stories21:37 Cultural Pressures and Financial Independence24:16 Supporting Women in Transition28:56 The Importance of Open Conversations33:50 Looking Ahead: The Upcoming Book LaunchAbout Sonia Relationship and Divorce Mentor and Coach... Redefining Self-Worth in South Asian Relationships.Find out more here:www.itsasoniathing.comhttps://www.instagram.com/_itsasoniathing_?igsh=c2xha3RsbDhjcG5whttps://www.facebook.com/share/1Avue15JdP/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit priyamohalcoaching.substack.com