Across cultures, women are bombarded by social expectations. For example:

-Women may be expected to fit in with a particular type of beauty, whether in terms of
weight, appearance, fashion, etc.

-Women feel they have to be “perfect” in their personal, social, and professional lives—to “have it all” and be impeccable.

-Many societies still view marriage and motherhood as a woman’s destiny with little to no
acceptance for even considering other paths.

-Women in unhappy or unhealthy marriages face economic, family, and community
pressure to stay with their partners.

-Women may be expected to assume a subordinate role as part of being a “good woman.” Many women feel pressured to remain silent about sexual harassment.

-Women are considered “natural” caretakers and nurturers, expected to prioritize others’
happiness and well-being above their own.

-Ambitious, independent women are viewed with suspicion and may be considered selfish.
But a woman who prioritizes family over a career may be judged as “aimless” or
“without ambition.”—A no-win situation.

Some of the social pressures on women have roots in patriarchal principles and
traditions. Men are given predominance over women; expectations are generated—including that
men are providers and women are caretakers—and women are relegated to second-tier status,
explicitly or implicitly. The power is on the side of the provider. This setup of predetermined
expectations and responses becomes a controlling factor in women’s external and internal lives. 
Women also face pressure as they try to implement feminist principles, which highlight
women’s right to freedom, independence, and equal opportunity. Here, the emphasis is often on
women making themselves the focal point of their decisions and developing their skills and
potential as the most critical endeavor of life.
The reality is that we women often feel caught between the expectations coming at us
from the two directions of patriarchal ideology and feminism— the demands of our social reality
and the pressures of living up to the goals we set for ourselves. As a result, we experience a lot of
conflict over which set of expectations to respond to.
In this struggle to fit in with one side or the other, or both, we lose touch with our
authentic selves. We focus on responding to social expectations instead of attending to our inner
lives and what makes us who we truly are.

References:
Lamberghini-West, A. (2019). Your Life, Your Way – Become Aware of Social Pressures Limiting Women.