“I’ve become a maid” – M’sian Woman Laments the ‘Unseen Labour’ of CNY After Getting Married

Chinese New Year (CNY) is usually a season of joy, a time when families come together for reunion dinners. But for one Malaysian woman, the festive occasion brings little cheer.

Instead of celebrating, she sees it as the busiest day of her year, marked by exhaustion rather than excitement. Usually, she wakes up around 7 AM for work. However, during the festive season, she has no choice but to get out of bed even earlier.

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“Ever since I got married, I have become a maid”

In an anonymous post shared on the XUAN Facebook page, the woman revealed that she now has to wake up as early as 5 AM, though not out of festive excitement.

“I have to wake up early to get ready, to cook, to clean the house. Ever since I got married, I have become a maid.

“I could wake up anytime I wanted at my house before I was married, but not anymore,” she lamented.

Her frustration deepens because she is not only forced to start her day at dawn but is also unable to go to bed early, as she is responsible for cleaning up the mess left behind.

The weight of unseen labour

In her post, she clarified that she isn’t being uncooperative, but she has grown weary of the lack of empathy from those around her. Her biggest grievance is that no one thinks to check on her well-being.

“No one asked me if I was tired. Back then, my family always asked if I wanted to eat anything, even after I had my dinner,” the woman revealed.

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When she tried to express her feelings, she was simply told, “It only happens once a year.” For her, CNY is no longer about a happy reunion.

Instead, she described it as “swallowing all grievances in one single breath.”

To those celebrating, how are the preparations coming along?

Also read: “It’s not CNY without roast pig” – Anthony Loke Assures Stable Pork Supply in M’sia for Reunion Dinner