In this powerful and unflinchingly honest TED Talk, poet and storyteller Rose Kandel unpacks the discomfort women experience in everyday interactions — and why it matters. Drawing from personal stories, cultural insight, and years of advocacy, Rose challenges the notion that harm is only visible when it’s extreme.She makes the case that the unease women feel in certain spaces, especially with men, is not harmless awkwardness — it’s a signal, a symptom of deeper, systemic violence that society refuses to name. This talk goes beyond conversations about privilege, calling for a radical reimagining of how we define safety, boundaries, and consent in both public and private life.A must-watch for anyone seeking to understand gendered power dynamics and the invisible weight women carry every day. Rose Kandel is a poet, storyteller, and public speaker who explores the intersections of culture, gender, and power. With a background in business, economics, and leadership, she brings together data and emotion, policy and personal experience.Rose is a graduate of Kathmandu University School of Management and Bowling Green State University. She spent six years in the States studying, working, and reflecting on the experiences of women, especially those from SouthAsia. That time shaped her voice and perspective, helping her articulate what many women feel but often can’t express.Her work has taken many forms—from national pageants to political discussion boards, from blogging, teaching, and content creation to experiences in management and participation in global conversations on trade and development. Across these spaces, she’s opened up conversations around consent, cultural expectations, and the quiet burdens many women carry. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx