The persistent cultural archetype of the “supermom” continues to shape societal expectations and personal experiences for working mothers, particularly within the Indian context. This notion portrays the earning mother as an individual who seamlessly balances the dual demands of professional success and familial responsibilities—often at tremendous personal cost. Recent research, spearheaded by Shah, Gandhi, Shinde, and colleagues, delves into the complexities underlying this cultural ideal, unmasking both its empowering elements and its potential to generate profound psychological strain for women navigating these multifaceted roles.
At the heart of this investigation lies an acknowledgment of the immense labor undertaken by earning mothers, who perform the intricate balancing act between home and workplace responsibilities. As mothers are expected to fulfill extensive caregiving duties—ranging from child-rearing to managing household dynamics—while simultaneously contributing economically, their physical and emotional bandwidth is stretched thin. This dual burden not only challenges conventional notions of work-life balance but also raises significant questions regarding women’s health and well-being.
Central to the lived experience of these women is the critical importance of personal rejuvenation. Kasturi (1995) highlighted two pivotal aspects that resonate strongly in this discourse: the strenuous effort expended by women as mothers, wives, and homemakers, and their equally essential right to claim time for leisure, rest, and self-care. The supermom ideal often marginalizes this entitlement, fostering a culture where taking personal time is viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity. This dynamic exacerbates the risk for burnout, chronic stress, and mental health challenges among working mothers.
Psychological ramifications arising from the supermom paradigm have been further corroborated by recent findings cited by Shamir Balderman and Shamir (2024), emphasizing how informal and formal social support networks play a crucial role in mediating these adverse effects. Informal support, from family and friends, provides a buffer that can alleviate anxiety and reduce the perceived weight of dual responsibilities. Formal support, embodied by institutional mechanisms and policies, similarly serves as a stabilizing factor, underscoring the interaction between personal agency and systemic facilitation in mitigating stress.
In examining institutional roles, there is an urgent call for organizations and governments to transcend mere policy enactment and ensure substantive implementation of maternity and parental support measures. While maternity leave policies constitute an essential baseline, they are insufficient in isolation. Strategic incentive programs tailored to career progression for mothers across both the public and private sectors could serve as pivotal interventions designed to minimize career penalties and foster equitable professional growth. Without such support, earning mothers often find themselves trapped in cycles of compromised ambition and compromised well-being.
From a media perspective, the perpetuation of the supermom myth demands recalibration. Mass communication platforms wield enormous influence in framing societal narratives, and thus bear responsibility for either entrenching or dismantling simplistic stereotypes. Advertisement campaigns, television programming, and cinematic portrayals need to diversify the representation of working mothers. Instead of a monolithic “do-it-all” image, media should embrace and amplify nuanced portrayals that highlight the emotional complexity, social challenges, and institutional contexts shaping mothers’ realities. Such multiplicity in representation not only humanizes these experiences but also validates the need for broader societal support structures.
Organizations specializing in women’s leadership development emerge as critical actors in empowering earning mothers to transcend cultural constraints. These programs boost self-esteem and foster a sense of self-efficacy, enabling women to navigate their dual roles with increased confidence and strategic skill. Enhancing leadership capabilities is particularly vital in contexts where mothers confront implicit bias or structural barriers that stymie their career trajectories. By positioning working mothers as leaders and decision-makers, these initiatives challenge entrenched narratives that confine women to domestic spheres.
The family unit itself remains a microcosm where the battle against the supermom ideal can be waged effectively. Family and marriage counselors contribute by sensitizing relatives to the significance of shared responsibility and emotional support. Cultivating empathetic home environments is foundational in diffusing the pressure borne disproportionately by mothers. When family members understand the intricacies of balancing work and motherhood, they are better equipped to foster adaptive coping mechanisms and equitable domestic partnerships.
In parallel, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) frameworks within organizations offer promising avenues to recognize and remunerate the multifaceted contributions of earning mothers. DEI agencies can advance programs that acknowledge the unique challenges faced by these women, intertwining recognition with resource allocation and managerial flexibility. For example, workplace adjustments related to scheduling, remote work options, or phased returns after maternity leave can be transformative in easing role conflict. Beyond tangible adjustments, cultivating a workplace culture that normalizes caregiving responsibilities as inherently valuable disrupts stigma and reinforces belonging.
Recruitment practices also stand to benefit from adopting a mother-inclusive paradigm. Organizing hiring processes to prevent bias against candidates with caregiving responsibilities—by focusing on skills-based assessments or providing disclosure options—can improve equitable access. Performance evaluation must be calibrated to reflect the context of multiple roles, ensuring that motherhood is not mischaracterized as diminished commitment or productivity. Organizational ecosystems that holistically consider earnings mothers’ needs not only enhance retention but also drive diverse perspectives and innovation.
The broader implications of these insights extend to public health and social policy domains. The chronic stress and anxiety associated with attempting to meet supermom expectations have measurable health consequences, ranging from sleep disruptions and cardiovascular risks to depressive symptoms. Addressing these demands urgent interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers, policymakers, and advocacy groups to design comprehensive support mechanisms. Interventions can include mental health counseling, community-based peer support groups, and well-structured parental leave systems.
Yet, the cultural underpinnings of the supermom notion require ongoing interrogation. In India and many similar societies, gender norms deeply influence expectations pertaining to motherhood and work. Challenging these norms necessitates systemic educational efforts that engage at the societal level, promoting gender equity and recalibrating definitions of success and responsibility. Without this cultural shift, policies and workplace reforms risk being superficial band-aids that fail to dismantle ingrained biases.
Further empirical research is vital to capture diverse experiences of earning mothers across socio-economic strata, geographic regions, and occupational sectors. Intersectional analysis should illuminate how class, caste, ethnicity, and other identity markers interact with the supermom ideal, potentially magnifying strain or enabling resilience. Longitudinal studies can track the evolving impacts of policy changes, social attitudes, and support interventions over time, yielding data to refine programs and recommendations.
The path forward lies in embracing a more humane and realistic articulation of motherhood and work—a narrative that honors complexity rather than superficial perfectionism. By unmasking the supermom myth, the research by Shah et al. opens avenues to reconceive social structures, cultural narratives, and institutional frameworks. Doing so promises to uplift earning mothers, supporting them not only to survive but to thrive, while safeguarding their physical and mental health.
Ultimately, transforming the supermom archetype from an unattainable ideal to a shared societal endeavor requires collective action. Governments must commit to progressive policy enactment and enforcement, organizations must embed equitable practices into their core, media must diversify its portrayal, and families must foster nurturing environments. Together, these pillars can dismantle the pressures that render motherhood a solitary trial of endurance and instead cultivate ecosystems where earning mothers are empowered, valued, and supported.
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Shah, S.S., Gandhi, P., Shinde, S. et al. Unmasking the notion of ‘Supermom’ in India: success and strain amongst earning mothers. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 1440 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05824-6
Image Credits: AI Generated
