Mothering confers privilege upon women. Mothering consists of a biological female parent who nurtures and raises a child. However, due to the differences in cultural and social roles, it has become difficult to define mothering as a collective and applicable perception. Chodorow (1978) states that mothering can be seen as socially, psychologically and biologically natural and functional (p. This essay will define concepts of motherhood, matriarchy and maternal instinct. Furthermore, it will discuss the deconstruction of motherhood and look behind the mother child relationship. Additionally, this essay will look at how women have a choice on whether they would like to become mothers or remain child-free, taking in to consideration the various methods that are available to women. Mothering doesnt just provide maturity and the feeling of importance, it provides much more. Richardson (1993) elaborates on this and argues that mothering is a contradictory experience. Furthermore, feminists views are examined and they are concerned with improving womens positions in societies. This essay analyzes the differences on what is best for the child among the social groups. Additionally, looking at how mothering differs between these social groups. Although there are many positive aspects to mothering, this essay will controversially examine the negative aspects towards mothering too. Motherhood consists of positive and negative attributes and can be seen as an identity that women wish to gain. Being a mother can have a large impact on their health. Mothering is seen as stressful and it consists of economic dependence (Richardson, D., Robinson, V. Women who become mothers may rely on another indivi... ... middle of paper ... ...w York, McGraw-Hill Companies. Glenn, E.N., Chang, G., Forcey, L.R. (1994) Mothering Ideology, Experience and Agency. New York, Routledge. Hyde, J.S. & DeLamater, J.D. (2003) Understanding human sexuality. 8 th Ed. New York, McGraw Hill. Nicolson, P. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 3 (4), pp.353-361. Cited in D, Richardson., V, Robinson. Basingstoke, London. Oakley, A. Harmondsworth, Penguin. Cited in D, Richardson., V, Robinson. Basingstoke, London. OReilly, A. State University of New York Press. Richardson, D., Robinson, V. Basingstoke, London. Richardson, D. London, Macmillan Press LTD. Silva, E.B. (1996) Good Enough Mothering Feminist Perspective on Lone Mothering. Canada, Routledge. Somerville, J. London, Macmillan Press LTD. Umansky, L. New York and London, New York University Press.
W. S. Ross once said “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” As simple as this quip may sound, its complex implications are amplified through the life of every person born since the beginning of humanity. What attribute makes a mother such an extraordinary influence over her young? One such attribute is the ability to nurture. Beyond the normal challenges of cooking, cleaning, schooling, singing, feeding, and changing is the motivation by which such sacrifices are made possible. One cannot raise a child without mutual respect. Emotion and anxiety must drive her instincts. Her ability to foster is only heightened by minute personal imperfections and overwhelming responsibility that lead to a lack of confidence. Yet the prevailing characteristic that separates a ‘birth giver’ from a ‘mother’ is the unconditional, undying, and at times underestimated love for her child. To be a mother in the purest sense, she must embrace this notion of nurture.
When women become mothers they love and protect their child. All mothers care about their children and always want the best for them. Children also rely on their mothers to take care of them and to love them. But when mothers become older sometimes they have to start relying on their children and their children start to take care of them. In “Youngest Daughter”, by Song a mother relies on her daughter to take care of her in her old age, but her daughter also relies on her for other things as well. In “Labor of Love”, by Tagami a mother and son must work together and care for each other during tough times. When it comes to being a mother or a child the roles can be reversible.
In order to build a strong, grounded house a person must use brick and cement. A brick is used to build the house, but yet it is the cement that molds and keeps the house together and intact. A family encompasses the same basic rules and needs. The father is the provider for his family, sort of like the brick, but it is the mother who holds the responsibility of teaching right from wrong, and they are the ones who keep strong when everything else is going wrong. Now days there are many single-mother families and the father is non-existent. Therefore, a mother plays a very strong, dominant, and essential role in her family.
Through this personal experience, Harwood explores the universal concept of motherhood that exists through the personal experience of the speaker.
She illustrates that an mother may have a long-term partner, multiple sexual relations at once or be legally married. All are acceptable by the community. Generally, a woman’s first child is not with a person they are married to. A child will then only have access to the father’s kin if the father claims ownership of the child. If a man decided to deny paternity, it is generally accepted by the community. Future boyfriends of the mother may fill this paternal role in the child’s daily life, but generally do not confer any kin relations to the child. If the father does not deny paternity, that does not mean that he and the mother necessarily maintain a romantic relationship. The more a father helps the mother and children, the greater his parental rights to the children; but since many men struggle to find employment, they often cannot adequately support the family and so are not involved in their child’s
Gender is a popular topic in the world today. It is a subject that is talked about and argued over, yet even with all the discussions being had, there are numerous other matters related to gender that should also be considered and included in the conversation. One of these issues is parenthood. The two articles “The Social Construction of Gender” and “The Joys of Parenthood, Reconsidered” each talk about how their topics are influenced by culture.
Are all mothers fit for motherhood? The concept of motherhood is scrutinized in the stories “The Rocking Horse Winner” and “Tears Idle Tears”. In “The Rocking Horse Winner” by D.H Lawrence the mother, Hester, unpremeditatedly provokes her son into providing for her through gambling. In the story “Tears Idle Tears” by Elizabeth Bowen, Mrs. Dickinson disregards her son’s emotions and puts more emphasis in her appearance than her son’s wellbeing. Hester and Mrs. Dickinson both were inadequate mothers. Both the mothers were materialistic, pretended to love their offspring, and their dominance hindered their children’s progress in life.
Parenting has been a long practice that desires and demands unconditional sacrifices. Sacrifice is something that makes motherhood worthwhile. The mother-child relationship can be a standout amongst the most convoluted, and fulfilling, of all connections. Women are fuel by self-sacrifice and guilt - but everyone is the better for it. Their youngsters, who feel adored; whatever is left of us, who are saved disagreeable experiences with adolescents raised without affection or warmth; and mothers most importantly. For, in relinquishing, a mother feels strong and liberal; and in guild she finds the motivation to right wrong.
Women nowadays are becoming mothers at an early age and often have to the raise the child on their own. Due to this hardship, they must improvise when it comes to adjusting to the change of now raising a child and their parenting skills. They must manage their personal goals while trying to provide a stable structure for their child. Many times they fall short due to their lack of resources and stress. Regardless of their romantic relationship status, it often falls on the mother to raise the child. Even though it is important for both parents to be present in a child’s life, if a parent is participating in deviant behavior, then sometimes it is best for the child to be raised by one parent.
In 1945, “The Mother” by Gwendolyn Brooks, challenged these conventional assumptions by forcing its audience to renegotiate the stigmas surrounding abortion and recognize the struggles that follow, while also redefining what qualifies as motherhood. The use of pronouns, thoughtful stanza organization, and an eliciting title, stylistically unite to express that abortion is not always a desirable choice for a woman but that the decision inflicts emotional turmoil that continues to trouble these women. Most importantly, it demonstrates that the choice can be a selfless endurance of pain made in the best interest of the child, an action viewed as characteristic of motherhood.
In her essay, “Motherhood: Who Needs It?”, Betty Rollin emphasizes the pressures of motherhood that society puts on women and highlights the fact that becoming a mother is not a natural instinct.
Why did you choose this article? Obviously, being a mom means more than having given a birth to a child. It is loving, caring and devoting the whole life to raise my child to become a good, happy and successful person in life. This is a toughest and high intensive full time job with many requirements, but without salary payment. Like other moms on the world, I want to find out the most suitable parenting strategy for my child, as it is the determinant factor in child development, and also affects my child’s psychological and social functioning. I realized that the way I raise my child is often similar to the way I was raised by my parents, but it seems difficult and challenging to clearly understand, accept and modify my parenting style. My
Motherhood is a term used and displayed in everyday life. It has several aspects that require many talents and hard work. However, sometimes motherhood needs little to no talent or dedication, as well. Motherhood is an opportunity to serve others and have a big impact on other’s life.
Ramona T. Mercer is the theorist credited for developing the theory of Maternal Role Attainment, which is also known as the theory of Becoming a Mother. “Maternal role attainment is an interactional and developmental process occurring over time in which a mother becomes attached to her infant, acquires competence in the caretaking tasks involved in the role, and expresses pleasure and gratification in the role (Tomey & Alligood, 2006, p. 608). Mercer’s career has been primarily focused in pediatrics, obstetrics, and maternal-child nursing. Mercer’s greatest accolades have been based on her extensive research on the topic of maternal role and development (Tomey & Alligood, 2006, p. 605).
Mothers are the primary caretakers of the children. The fathers have had minimal care taking responsibilities. Many women, if they had a career before hand, have to give it up to stay at home with the child. Although, many fathers where the wives must work become important in the process of care taking because their role must increase to their children. Studies of human fathers and their infants confirm that many fathers can act sensitively with their infant (according to Parke & Sawin, 1980) and their infants form attachments to both their mothers and fathers at roughly the same age (according to Lamb, 1977).