Gendered Labor, Motherhood Ideals, and the Politics of Care: Investigating Superwoman Syndrome Among Working Mothers in India

The study examines the phenomenon of Superwoman Syndrome among Indian working mothers, framing it not as an individual failing but as a structural outcome of gendered expectations, workplace bias, and institutional inadequacies. It aims to understand how these interconnected pressures shape women's health, dignity, and emotional well‐being. A convergent parallel mixed‐methods design was employed, integrating quantitative data from 191 survey respondents and qualitative insights from 31 semi‐structured interviews. Quantitative analyses (chi‐square, correlation, regression) identified key associations, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically using a constructivist grounded approach. Results reveal consistent associations between workplace bias, health compromises, and dignity erosion. Qualitative narratives highlight recurring themes of Motherhood as Perpetual Labor , Compromise as a Way of Life , and Emotional Burnout and Social Undermining . The integrated analysis indicates that structural inequalities, rather than individual limitations, propagate the myth of the “Superwoman.” The study proposes policy interventions such as affordable childcare, flexible work arrangements, and workplace sensitization to address gendered structural inequities. The study incorporates structural gender inequality and politics of care to theorize Superwoman Syndrome within the Indian socio‐cultural context, thereby contributing to feminist scholarship and policy discourse on women's work and well‐being.