Beyond A Homemaker: Sumithra Sriram Rewrites Her Story Through Content Creation

"First solo trip, first time on stage as an adult," expressed Sumithra Sriram in a recent Instagram post, reminiscing her time at SheThePeople's Digital Women Awards 2024 in Hyderabad. The Chennai-based content creator and parenting expert spoke on a panel called 'Digital Horizons: Transforming Women's Futures', detailing how social media has become a source of empowerment for her as she built a global supportive community right from the four walls of her house.

Homemaker’s Path To Digital Empowerment

Sumithra Sriram’s story resonates with numerous women in India. Growing up in a conservative household with limited freedom and then resigning from her banking job after her first child’s birth, she made many sacrifices in her life. She raised her children with all the love and support she pined for as a child. 

Sumithra’s life took a transformative turn a few years ago when she embraced content creation to share her parenting journey and insights. She started posting content about topics that were dear to her– gentle parenting, gender equality, mental health, etc. Today, her Instagram has amassed over 75,000 followers.

Speaking at the Digital Women Awards, she expressed, “As a homemaker and content creator, I was always locked inside the four walls of my house. So for me to come to another city as a shortlist for an award event and meet people, [is] really exciting!”

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A post shared by Sumithra Sriram (@sumithra.sriram)

While the digital world has opened a space for expression and allowed Sumithra to step out of her comfort zone, she opened up about the challenges she faces as a content creator. She revealed how the biases against homemakers and untraditional parents have seeped into the online world, leaving way for scrutiny.

The child abuse and mental health expert said, “There is a lot of criticism. Whenever we talk about gentle parenting, a lot of people lash back saying, ‘Back in my day, my parents were very strict and my father beat me but I am normal. But these days look at how girls are roaming freely and going bad.’ But that isn’t true at all. With hundreds and thousands of young writing to me each day, I know how bold and empowered they are. They are confident, not ‘gone bad’ compared to the previous generation. They just know their value.”

Sumithra also spoke about her advocacy for self-care and the empowerment of caregivers and homemakers. Looking back on her own journey and the struggles she overcame, she encouraged new-gen moms to prioritise their own physical and mental health whilst juggling a multitude of roles and keeping the family healthy.

“Unless you are healthy and happy, you cannot keep your family happy. That is what I missed; In my generation, I kept sacrificing and serving my family throughout my life. Till my 40s, I did not live my life at all. I was living my mother’s life, my children’s life. I failed to take care of myself. At 40, I went into a state of emotional exhaustion. That’s when I knew that something was missing and picked it up from there. But you women don’t have to wait till then to realise all this.”

Through the power of digital, Sumithra Sriram renewed her life and now uses her platform to create a shift and encourage more women to take charge of their own narratives. She is an example of great reinvention and resilience as she uses her story to remind her followers that empowerment begins from within.