Finding her voice again: How Siti found her community through Link Women

Author: Melanie Jarvis 

The weight of workplace inequality

In the newsroom, Siti was paid below minimum wage and given a workload meant for multiple people.

"People saw that I'm a woman, so I don't need to be promoted, although I had worked very hard," she said in an interview with UN Women in October 2025. "When there was an opportunity to promote, I couldn't have it, although my supervisor actually endorsed me.

"It affected me mentally and physically. I was having a burnout, and I was also insecure."

She ultimately resigned when she was pregnant, nearly ready to give birth.

A new chapter, new challenges

As a new mother, despite having a supportive husband who shared housekeeping and cooking, Siti found herself exhausted in ways she hadn't anticipated.

"My rest time was minimal after having a child. Breastfeeding was unexpectedly exhausting. I became very sensitive and everything became a problem for me," recalled Siti, who is now 29.

“I felt lost. I thought, 'Is this it? Is this all for me?' Although I enjoyed motherhood, I felt empty as well and underappreciated. Although I'm a housewife, I still need to develop myself."

Discovering a community

Siti heard about Link Women through a UN Women service provider. She joined in May 2025, and what she found exceeded her expectations.

 "In Link Women, I found the community where the conversation is more meaningful. People are talking about self-development, career and the future," she said.

She became one of the top 200 most active participants, attending workshops and completing assignments consistently.

From insecurity to confidence

Before Link Women, Siti had a LinkedIn account but rarely used it -- "I felt insecure, not confident enough, because I felt that someone who is on LinkedIn has to have a status or have some particular career in order to post. If I wanted to post, I had to think twice."

"Once I joined Link Women, I felt more confident and decided to tell the stories about what I felt, experienced, and what I wanted to achieve," she said. "It turns out there are many others who have similar experiences with me, who are also struggling, who want to go back to the workforce after becoming a housewife."

When Link Women launched a challenge encouraging participants to write about their learning journey on LinkedIn, Siti seized the opportunity. She was one of four winners.

That recognition affirmed that her story mattered. Her voice had value. She wasn't alone.

Looking to the future

Siti believes programmes like Link Women should be made available to more women.

"I got information about Link Women through online platforms," she said. "It would be better if the government also had similar programmes that can reach more women in the community who might not have digital access but who have the intention to grow themselves."

Deby Subandi, Giasinta Livia and Radhiska Anggiana contributed to this article.