A critical examination of the so-called ’empowerment’ of women in capitalist societies, ‘Lies Our Mothers Told Us’ dissects popular feminism to show its often unhelpful roots in corporate and patriarchal structures.
LSR REVIEW OF BOOKS
Bhowmick’s book prompts a crucial societal reevaluation, serving as a wake-up call for both men and women to rethink ingrained gender roles and disparities.
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
Delivers a poignant look at the clash between traditional roles and modern expectations, leaving women overburdened and undervalued.
STORIZEN
Through meticulous research and compelling narratives, the book breaks the silence around the everyday struggles of Indian women, making it a must-read.
TELEGRAPH INDIA
Combines powerful personal stories with statistics to highlight the persistent gender inequality in India, making a strong case for societal change.
NEW ASIAN WRITING
Explores how capitalist economies see women primarily as consumers, not as individuals seeking empowerment, and critically evaluates the toxic ‘superwoman’ or ‘girl boss’ image in modern workplaces.
LSE BLOGS
Highlights the pressure middle-class women face, constantly balancing societal expectations with personal aspirations, often to their detriment.
TELEGRAPH INDIA
Addresses the profound silence surrounding women’s deep-seated struggles and validates their experiences through engaging, personal narratives and broader societal analysis.
WIRE.IN
Casts a stark light on the enduring struggle of Indian women against a backdrop of historical inequality, exploitation, and the myth of the ’empowered’ modern woman.
STORIZEN
Encourages essential boundary-setting as an act of self-care and rebellion against societal expectations that exploit women’s labor and caregiving.
SCROLL.IN
This book reminded me that before being a ‘mother’, my mother is a woman who is subjected to subtle patriarchal oppression of family, which no one talks about because it’s ‘invisible’ to us, or maybe because we have ‘chosen’ to unsee it.
WOMEN’S WEB
In her book Lies Our Mothers Told Us: The Indian Woman’s Burden, Nilanjana Bhowmick addresses these issues and the superwoman complex women face—they are expected to do it all, and, if they can’t, they are branded as unsuccessful, not good enough wives/mothers/women.
MINT LOUNGE
Illustrates the double burden of ‘superwoman syndrome’ and the traditional roles women are expected to fulfill, significantly impacting their mental health and professional opportunities.
NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
The labyrinths of rituals, routines, and set conditioning have normalised over-work for women in the domestic set up and thus Nilanjana’s book shines a torchlight on the many lies that permit covert permissiveness of domestic abuse in the garb of ‘responsibility.’
BUSINESS TODAY
A new generation of women will indeed have to find other sources of support. Rather than run to the Manusmriti – which is part of the problem rather than any solution – more books like these are needed to strengthen our understanding of this subject and to make a positive change more urgent.
WIRE.IN
When a woman first picks up Nilanjana Bhowmick’s book, ‘Lies Our Mothers Told us – The Indian Woman’s Burden’, perhaps they cannot foresee just how hard every line of the book will hit them.
FEMINISM IN INDIA
