Karishma Mehta Challenges Societal Timelines for Women on LinkedIn

In a recent LinkedIn post, Karishma Mehta offers a powerful critique of the societal pressure often placed on women to adhere to specific timelines for marriage and children, particularly as they enter their 30s. Mehta, founder of Humans of Bombay, shares her personal experience of facing these questions and reflects on the broader implications of conforming to external expectations.

Mehta begins by acknowledging the personal nature of her reflections, stating:

I know this isn’t my identity, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked about marriage and kids. I’ve always been confident in my choices, but when most people around you make you feel like you’re ‘behind’… it makes you pause. Makes you wonder… ‘am I missing something?’

Deconstructing the ‘Timeline’ Myth

The central theme of Mehta’s post is a direct challenge to the concept of a predetermined timeline for life milestones. She questions the origin and validity of these imposed schedules, asking, “But behind what, exactly? Whose timeline is it?” Mehta draws a parallel between her own experience building Humans of Bombay in her 20s and the lives of other successful women, suggesting that focusing on personal goals and impact can lead to a more fulfilling, albeit non-traditional, path.

“When I was building Humans of Bombay in my 20s, I wasn’t thinking about timelines. I was thinking about telling stories, about building a platform that can make an impact,” Mehta writes. She emphasizes that her dedication to her career led to personal growth, stating:

And somewhere between the late nights, the launches, the failures and the restarts… I became someone I wouldn’t have been if I’d rushed into a life I wasn’t ready for.

Highlighting Role Models Who Defy Convention

To further illustrate her point, Mehta highlights several prominent women who achieved significant personal and professional success without adhering to conventional timelines. She names:

• Katrina Kaif (married at 38, mother at 40)
• Priyanka Chopra (married at 36, mother at 39)
• Sara Blakely (founded Spanx at 27, married at 33)
• Preity Zinta (married at 41, twins at 46)
• Jennifer Lopez (mother of twins at 38)

Mehta uses these examples to argue that these women were not “behind” but rather “busy building their lives on their own timeline.” This section serves as a powerful endorsement of forging one’s own path, regardless of societal expectations.

The Root of Societal Pressure

Mehta posits that the pressure women face is not about their own happiness but about the comfort of others. She writes:

The pressure on women to hit relationship milestones by 30 isn’t about our happiness. It’s about other people’s comfort. Their need to see our lives follow a shape they recognise.

This observation encourages readers to re-examine the source of these expectations and to prioritize their own life choices over external validation. Mehta concludes her post with a message of empowerment, assuring those who feel questioned that living a life that deviates from societal templates is perfectly acceptable.