“Superwoman”: New-Age Identity of Working Mothers in India

Indian women have traveled from the dark alleys of ignorance to the light of education. Contemporary progressive India has a significant portion of the female workforce. Indian women are functioning in multiple roles, like professionals, wives, mothers, etc. Such a scenario kindles questions regarding the concomitant socioeconomic roles and priorities of Indian working mothers. The current entry discusses the functional patterns of a new-age identity of Indian working mothers, the associated populist urban myths, the problematic relationship of populist discourses and practices, the related mental-health concerns, and the existential dilemmas. The modern concept of “superwoman” identity and its impact on well-being is discussed through a cognitive-triad model. The neopopulist culture of women’s liberation is analyzed. These discussions lead to suggestions for fostering mental-health support systems for working mothers through the creation of parent-groups, professional helps, and familial and discrimination-free work-environment.