Maria Konstantaki: The Pressure to Conform in Family Settings

Maria Konstantaki, who recently spoke out about the backlash she faced within Parliament, shared her personal experiences during a new televised interview on Thursday with Breakfast@star and journalist Sophia Rauptopoulou. ‘When someone expresses an opinion about another person’s life, they’re essentially characterizing themselves,’ Konstantaki highlighted after facing harsh criticism aimed at Zoe Konstantopoulou in Parliament. She recounted years of enduring pressure from family members urging her to start a family. ‘My mother’s dream was for me to have a family, but eventually, she understood it wasn’t my dream. These expectations are well-known; the more importance we give them, the more we elevate them, whereas we should dismiss them.’ Konstantaki emphasized that Greece remains a narrow-minded society where individuals shouldn’t feel compelled to justify their life choices to anyone. ‘I felt immense pressure at family gatherings where everyone had children; I often felt like an outsider,’ she added during the STAR morning show.