I am a 26/F, 6 months into an arranged marriage with my husband, a 30/M. This is his second marriage. I have been trying to adjust to married life, but I am struggling with a persistent issue regarding how his family treats me.

persistent issue regarding how his family treats me.

I am 26, female, and 6 months into an arranged marriage that I was pressured into by my family. This is my husband’s second marriage. I have been trying to adjust to married life, but I have reached a breaking point.

Before the wedding, my in-laws tried to give me the ex-wife's old clothes disguised as wedding gifts. We had a huge fight, and my husband eventually took me shopping for new ones. A month into the marriage, they "gifted" me a dress for a function—it was clearly the ex’s, and it was falling apart at the seams. I later found photos on my husband’s phone of her wearing that exact dress. There was a major confrontation involving my parents, and he promised it would never happen again.

Recently, his sister held a function. My mother-in-law gave me two "gifts," one of which was a pre-stitched dress tailored for a woman much larger than me. It is clearly the sister's clothes.

I am completely fed up. Talking to my husband is useless; he gaslights me and has locked me out of his digital life. I feel like this is a deliberate attempt to humiliate me.

I am 5 months pregnant and I don't have the energy for this, but I refuse to be a placeholder or a target for their games. My husband will not back me up, so I need to know:

  • Direct Communication: How can I politely but firmly decline "gifts" or items that feel disrespectful without creating a scene at family functions?
  • Setting Boundaries: Since my husband is not currently involved in resolving this, what are some effective ways to set personal boundaries with my in-laws that protect my peace?
  • Communication Strategy: Are there specific ways to frame my refusal of these items so that it focuses on my needs rather than accusing them, to minimize potential conflict?

Posted Jun 8, 2026, 4:50 AM UTC

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