Beyond Celebration: Recognising the Invisible Labour of Mothers
Siddharth Roy
Civil Engineer, Short Story Writer and Columnist
Guwahati
Every year, Mother’s Day arrives with flowers, greetings, social media tributes and carefully crafted messages celebrating maternal love and sacrifice. It is a day marked by emotion and gratitude, reminding societies across the world of the immeasurable role mothers play in shaping families and communities. Yet beyond the symbolic gestures and commercial celebrations lies a deeper and more uncomfortable reality: while motherhood is widely revered in rhetoric, the labour, struggles and contributions of mothers often remain undervalued in public policy, economics and social life.
Motherhood is one of the most powerful human experiences, but it is also one of the least adequately recognised forms of labour. Across societies, mothers perform multiple roles simultaneously, caregivers, educators, emotional anchors, health managers and economic contributors. In India particularly, mothers often become the invisible foundation upon which families function. From managing households and caring for children to supporting elderly family members and contributing to livelihoods, their responsibilities extend far beyond what is acknowledged in conventional economic calculations.
Yet this immense contribution remains largely absent from national accounting systems and policy discussions. Unpaid domestic work, overwhelmingly carried out by women, continues to be treated as a private responsibility rather than a social and economic contribution. Time-use surveys in India and elsewhere consistently reveal that women spend significantly more hours than men performing unpaid care work. This imbalance not only limits women’s economic opportunities but also reinforces long-standing gender inequalities.
Mother’s Day therefore should not merely become an occasion for sentimental celebration. It should also serve as an opportunity to reflect on the structural challenges faced by mothers in contemporary society.
One of the most pressing concerns is the persistent burden of balancing motherhood and professional life. Despite increasing female participation in education and employment, working mothers continue to encounter systemic barriers. Many workplaces remain inadequately equipped to support maternity needs, childcare responsibilities and flexible work arrangements. Career interruptions linked to motherhood often affect women’s long-term professional growth, earnings and representation in leadership positions.
India has taken some positive steps in this direction. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act of 2017, which extended paid maternity leave to 26 weeks in the formal sector, represented an important policy intervention. However, the benefits of such legislation remain largely confined to the organised workforce. Millions of women employed in informal sectors, agriculture, domestic work and daily wage labour continue to lack adequate maternity protection, healthcare access and financial security during pregnancy and childbirth.
Maternal healthcare itself remains a major challenge. India has made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality over the past two decades through expanded institutional deliveries, vaccination programmes and public health initiatives. Yet regional disparities persist sharply, particularly in rural and economically weaker areas where healthcare infrastructure remains inadequate. Access to nutrition, prenatal care, mental health support and postnatal services continues to vary widely across States and communities.
Mental health is another dimension of motherhood that receives insufficient attention. Societal expectations often portray mothers as endlessly resilient figures capable of managing emotional, physical and financial stress without complaint. In reality, many mothers struggle with anxiety, exhaustion, isolation and postpartum depression. However, mental health support systems for mothers remain weak and social stigma often discourages open discussion of these issues.
The changing structure of Indian society has also transformed the experience of motherhood. Urbanisation, migration and nuclear family systems have reduced traditional support networks that once assisted mothers in raising children. Many women today navigate parenting responsibilities with limited social support while simultaneously managing professional and economic pressures. The rapid expansion of digital culture and social media has further intensified unrealistic expectations surrounding parenting and family life.
At the same time, motherhood cannot be discussed only within the framework of sacrifice. Mothers are not merely caregivers; they are individuals with aspirations, ambitions and identities beyond domestic roles. Societies that truly respect motherhood must also respect women’s autonomy, education, economic independence and decision-making power.
The relationship between mothers and education deserves particular attention. In countless households, mothers remain the first teachers of children. They shape values, discipline, empathy and social awareness long before formal schooling begins. Numerous studies have demonstrated that maternal education significantly influences child health, literacy and educational outcomes. Investing in women’s education therefore becomes not only a matter of gender justice but also a foundation for broader social development.
Motherhood also intersects closely with economic policy. Countries that invest in childcare systems, parental leave, healthcare and social protection tend to create healthier and more productive societies. Supporting mothers is not simply welfare expenditure; it is long-term human capital investment. Affordable childcare, flexible work policies and stronger social security systems are essential if women are to participate fully and equally in the economy.
Importantly, the responsibility of caregiving must not rest solely upon mothers. Gender equality within households remains critical. Parenting responsibilities should be shared more equitably between men and women. A society that expects mothers alone to bear the emotional and physical burden of caregiving ultimately reinforces inequality and limits social progress.
Mother’s Day also offers an opportunity to acknowledge the diversity of maternal experiences. Mothers from rural communities, single mothers, widowed mothers, adoptive mothers and working-class mothers often face unique struggles that remain invisible in mainstream narratives. Their experiences deserve equal recognition and policy attention.
In many ways, the measure of a society’s progress lies in how it treats those who nurture the next generation. Respect for mothers cannot be confined to annual celebrations, advertisements or symbolic gestures. It must be reflected in labour policies, healthcare systems, educational opportunities and social attitudes.
The true spirit of Mother’s Day lies not merely in expressing gratitude, but in creating a society where mothers are supported, protected and empowered throughout the year. Genuine respect for motherhood requires more than words; it demands structural change, social empathy and public commitment.
As India continues its journey toward economic growth and social transformation, it must recognise that no nation can truly progress while the labour and well-being of mothers remain undervalued. Celebrating mothers is important. Ensuring dignity, equality and support for them is even more essential.