Rice cookers reshape women's roles and lives in Asia

Rice cookers have significantly influenced women's lives in Asia, symbolizing both liberation and new expectations. While they were designed to reduce cooking time, they also pushed women into different roles, as seen in films like Wong Kar-wai's *In The Mood For Love* and Payal Kapadia’s *All We Imagine As Light*. In *In The Mood For Love*, a rice cooker allows a woman to leave home for work and pursue a relationship, highlighting its role in changing domestic dynamics. Conversely, in *All We Imagine As Light*, the rice cooker evokes longing for a family life that the main character, Prabha, cannot have due to her husband's absence. The rice cooker’s development involved significant innovation, with early resistance from manufacturers who viewed it as a threat to traditional roles. Despite its success, questions remain about whether it truly benefited women or simply shifted their responsibilities.