Episode 18: The Paradox of India’s Patriarchy

In India, women were taught to be good wives and mothers—and sadly this still holds true in many parts of the country.

Despite being a goddess-worshiping culture, Indian society still upholds outdated patriarchal views. Hindu mythology has great reverence for warrior goddesses, for they have the capacity to be both nurturing and destructive at the same time. 

The admiration for the divine feminine has not been translated into respect for women as human beings, which is evident in the alarming rates of gender based violence across India. One of the reasons for this inequality is the suppression of the feminine in ancient scriptures. In holy texts, we find stories of women being abused and punished. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation, and now it’s embedded patriarchal systems in the collective psyche. Women are not treated as unique individuals; they are treated as pieces that keep the patriarchal system in place. 

These conservative values are what Aekta Kapoor grew up to believe. Soon after obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she quickly got married like the rest of her peers. When she had a spiritual awakening at age 30, she discovered that she was meant for something more. She left her husband and took on her first job as an editor at a publishing house. In the coming years, her career grew and she worked with famed websites and magazines. 

After decades of being in the industry, Aekta felt disillusioned with her work. Instead of empowering women, she felt as if magazines pulled women down by focusing on celebrities and models. She found it limiting for women to focus on their bodies instead of their minds and spirits. This prompted Aekta to create eShe, to feature women and girls so they could be heard. 

Aekta is the founder and editor of eShe magazine, a digital magazine based in India and Canada. After decades as a journalist and editor for prestigious publications like Maire Claire, Penguin Books, Harper's Bazaar Bride, and others, she felt inspired to create her own platform that amplified women’s voices and stories about our shared humanity. She is also a founding member of the South Asia Peace Action Network. Through her writing, workshops, and other initiatives, she aims to promote social justice, gender equality, and peacebuilding.

What we discuss…

04:15 - Aekta’s story of growth and change

08:25 - Opened eyes through spiritual practice

11:22 - Going against India's societal norms and the stigma of divorce

16:10 - Creating eShe with real stories of women and girls 

21:35 - The paradox of India’s patriarchy 

28:58 - Inclusivity through feminine energy

35:33 - India’s gender inequality and violence

37:25 - Systemic patriarchy in Hindu scriptures

46:27 - The next wave of feminism

52:03 - The feminine rising during the Kali Yuga Cycle

57:04 - What's the message of the Divine Mother to us?

Learn more from Aekta:

Website: eshe.in

Instagram: @aektakapoor

Connect with the Global Sisterhood

Website: www.globalsisterhood.org

Instagram: @theglobalsisterhood