Women’s Day Special: Asserting Equity, Strengthening Families

Dr. Nisha Fernando, medical officer and senior counsellor at Mithuru Piyasa, highlights how women struggle with household and childcare responsibilities without support. She presents a case study that stresses that assertiveness, mutual respect, and communication help break harmful patterns. This Women’s Day, let’s empower women to set boundaries, foster equity, and build stronger, trust-based relationships.

Words - Dr. Nisha Fernando / Sachini Perera 

A mother first came to my office, desperate for help with her child’s stubborn and aggressive behavior. She explained that no matter how hard she tried, her child would defy her at every turn-responding with bursts of aggression that left everyone feeling frustrated and helpless. Initially, our focus was solely on the child. She described how his defiance would erupt into tantrums, and despite her best efforts to manage his behavior, nothing seemed to work. However, as we conducted our sessions and assessments, subtle hints began to emerge that pointed to another, deeper issue. During our consultations, she started sharing details about her home life. It became evident that her husband, after coming home from work, was invariably absorbed in his phone and rarely participated in family life. He expected her to shoulder all the responsibilities-from household chores to childcare-and when the child acted out, he placed all the blame on her. 

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