‘Maybe in your world when people fall in love they become incapacitated and landlords stop asking for rent…’: Saba Azad shuts down sexist assumption about women

The actor shared a screenshot of the comment on her Instagram Story and replied, “Ok sumit ji uncle ji ji!! Maybe in your world when people fall in love they become incapacitated and landlords stop asking for rent and the need to put food on one’s own table magically evaporates!! Wah!!”

This mindset is not limited to celebrities. Many women, regardless of their profession, are expected to deprioritise their ambitions once they enter a relationship — especially if their partner is financially successful. 

But, why are women in relationships with successful men often assumed to have no career aspirations or financial independence?

Neha Parashar, senior psychologist and relationship counsellor at Cadabams Mindtalk, tells indianexpress.com, “Society continues to reinforce traditional gender roles, viewing men as ‘breadwinners’ and women as ‘nurturers.’ According to research from the American Psychological Association (APA), subconscious biases still link a woman’s financial security to her partner’s status rather than her own earning potential. The media further perpetuates this stereotype by portraying successful men with partners who seemingly set aside their ambitions. This fuels the notion that financial comfort equates to career complacency for women.”

The actor shared a screenshot of the comment on her Instagram Story (Source: Instagram/Saba Azad)

Additionally, she adds that outdated economic assumptions suggest that “women work only out of necessity, ignoring studies that show many pursue careers for personal fulfillment, intellectual stimulation, and financial autonomy.” In some cultures, a woman’s success is still measured by securing a “well-settled” partner rather than professional achievements, reinforcing the belief that she no longer needs to work once financially stable.

Patriarchal norms also contribute to this mindset, resisting the idea of women as independent decision-makers. “A study published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology highlights how women who assert their professional ambitions are often unfairly seen as either ungrateful for their partner’s success or needlessly ambitious. These assumptions can have psychological consequences, making women feel undervalued or pressured to justify their ambitions. Many may even struggle with internalised guilt about continuing to work, despite their passion and career aspirations,” notes Parashar. 

Some effective ways for women to challenge and navigate these stereotypes 

Parashar suggests breaking outdated perceptions requires confidence, assertiveness, and strategic boundary-setting. Women shouldn’t have to justify their career choices, but in a world where stereotypes persist, they can navigate assumptions by owning their narrative confidently, setting boundaries with unwarranted opinions, and surrounding themselves with a supportive network. 

Responding to intrusive comments with humour or directness, as Saba Azad did, can effectively challenge stereotypes. Professional achievements help shift the narrative, showing that ambition and love are not mutually exclusive. Advocacy for better workplace and media representation is key to normalising female ambition. Most importantly, women should avoid over-explaining — simply stating, ‘I love what I do,’ should be enough.