Motherhood: A Victim of Patriarchal Repression

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Motherhood in this developed nation has many of its downfalls, but many of which are due to the psychological repression and disempowerment of these women’s rights and personal needs. To begin, we must delve into the two concepts that are often reinforced in motherhood-- that being the new-momism and motherhood as an institution. The American institution-- aims to hold women’s reproductive rights and their children under the control of men. This continues to exist because it is run by a patriarchal society that seeks to “alienate women from their bodies by incarcerating them” while creating a divide between private and public, which often sets standards for mothers who matter to society. For example, mothers that fit the category are educated, …show more content…

What is rather unique about her story is the fact that she publically displays her sufferings as a mother. She does not focus on making this whole ordeal seem fulfilling in order to conform to the new-momism, but rather sheds light to its realities. For example, she feels a weight lifted off of her after her mother 's death, an uncommon reaction from a child to their mother (Gore 237). Although, it is understandable because throughout her memoir, she reveals the rocky relationship they had to begin with and being held responsible for her mother 's well-being on top of her own family. The amount of responsibility that she must bear especially as a single lesbian breadwinner for the home is difficult. Not to mention institutions for childcare most likely reject people like her because she defies the norms. It is important for people like Gore to open up the subject of motherhood into more than just its empowering experience, but to also show its impacts on one’s individuality and its implications. In addition to highlighting that the work of care should not only be placed upon mothers because they too have their own burdens to worry …show more content…

She believes that the refusal of work promotes anti-productivism, which “allows us to see work as a form of violence, rather than a path to self-discovery or a necessary service to the community” (164). In opposition to Weeks, Berg deems that the refusal of work is a radical way of attempting to accomplish Wages for Housework. Furthermore, she supports this argument by saying that capital binds its workers to the job because it “binds workers to absorb the costs of the risks” (169). These risks are often associated with financials, social expectations, etc which can then interfere with future generations. For example, teachers who are protesting for better pay are often bothered by the thought of the social repercussions of their actions, especially if it can be harmful to their future. These “social repercussions” are defined as “blackmail” or “social necessity debt”because the necessity of their work will contribute to the reproduction of society (163). In Berg 's analysis, continuing this wave of feminism reveal the complexities that is rather hard to make final decisions for because of the many emotional ties and moral obligations associated with capitalism, laborers, and their

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