Lies Our Mothers Told Us

Nilanjana Bhowmick's 'Lies Our Mothers Told Us' offers a critical examination of the unacknowledged burdens faced by Indian women, particularly within the middle class. Despite significant legal advancements in women's rights since the 19th century, this book reveals how persistent patriarchal attitudes and the demands of modern capitalism force women into lives that remain unequal and exceptionally demanding. It exposes the hidden realities behind an apparent façade of empowerment, highlighting the 'double shift' phenomenon where women disproportionately manage domestic duties and caregiving, often at the expense of their own well-being and career aspirations.
Drawing on available data and real-life anecdotes, Bhowmick explores how middle-class families often simulate an environment of empowerment while silently expecting women to be 'superwomen'. This expectation often leads to severe mental and physical health consequences. The book challenges the societal assertion that 'women can have it all' by asking whether this comes at an impossibly high price in a patriarchal society.
Why You Should Read?
Understand the real impact of gender inequality and patriarchal structures on modern Indian women.
Gain insight into the 'double shift' phenomenon and its socio-economic costs.
Explore how middle-class families perpetuate subtle yet damaging gender norms.
Reflect on the true price women pay for societal expectations of 'having it all'.